Issue 206: Big Decisions in US Environmental and Energy Policy

A Note from RFF’s President about Resources issue 206:

Last year was tough, beyond any stretch of the imagination. In spite of the hardships and setbacks, Resources for the Future (RFF) has stayed the course to help improve environmental, energy, and natural resource decisions through impartial economic research and policy engagement.

Now that a turbulent 2020 is behind us, we have the opportunity to look ahead—with informed optimism and educated guesses about what’s to come. In this issue of Resources, RFF scholars and other authors offer some research-based recommendations for how the Biden administration can advance the goal of transitioning to a low-carbon future.

• Arthur G. Fraas and Richard D. Morgenstern examine benefit-cost analysis, its recent erosion, and whether its integrity can be restored.
• Brian Prest weighs the options for a new administration to reform oil and gas leasing and permitting.
• University Fellow Carolyn Kousky provides a road map for climate resilience.
• A dazzling infographic summarizes recent work from Dallas Burtraw and others about how to decarbonize global industry.
• Daniel Raimi shares updates from his research about policy options for managing abandoned oil wells.
• An article from Cole Martin gives important updates on a new report from the External Economics Advisory Committee, which evaluates the rules encompassing Waters of the United States.
• RFF and Stanford researchers provide follow-ups from our Climate Insights 2020 survey, which gauges American public opinion on climate change and the environment.
• RFF Board Member Elaine Dorward-King discusses the importance of partnerships in facing the climate challenge.

To draw from my conversation with Sue Tierney, the chair of RFF’s board of directors, in the final episode of the special Resources Radio podcast series we co-hosted this past fall: Ultimately, actions have consequences—and if you don’t have good data and analysis, you have little idea of what those consequences might be. You need a good baseline picture of reality, and you need a solid understanding of how your actions might change that reality.

Opportunities are wide open, and at RFF, we are eagerly looking forward to working with a new administration, Congress, our supporters—and you—to actively pursue a healthy environment and resilient economy.

Richard G. Newell
President and CEO, Resources for the Future