Suchergebnisse

Multicriteria evaluation (MCE) is a well-tried and effective procedure for structuring and aiding complex decisionmaking processes, especially those involving environmental considerations. Formal deliberative processes have also been successful in aiding understanding and meeting consensus in complex and difficult decision problems which involve more than one decisionmaker. Here, both approaches are combined in a new technique called 'deliberative multicriteria evaluation' to assist a group of natural resource managers to decide on a suitable option for recreation and tourism activities in the upper Goulburn–Broken Catchment of Victoria, Australia. This approach is an attempt to combine the advantages of MCE, providing structure and integration in complex decision problems, with the advantages of deliberation and stakeholder interaction provided by a 'citizens' jury'. An important outcome of the process was the discovery of some crucial aspects of the decision problem that required deeper understanding and assessment if that preferred strategy were to have the desired results. Some suggestions for improving the process are provided but, in general, the stakeholder jury was regarded as a helpful and useful procedure by the decisionmakers and one which aided them in their understanding of the issues of a complex decisionmaking problem.

Australia has seen a deep division in opinion in search of a carbon pricing mechanism. While concepts of carbon taxation and emission trading have comparable public support, climate scepticism is influencing the debates in political and public spheres in

We discuss the role and characteristics of water markets in Australia in facilitating efficient water allocation. Administrative, regulatory and/or political barriers to effective functioning of water markets are reviewed with a focus on the southern Murray-Darling Basin (MDB) region of Australia. A mathematical model is developed to estimate the costs of existing restrictions and the benefits from potential changes in water markets (e.g., removing barriers in temporary water markets). The modelling results reveal that expanding trade leads to an increase in mean annual net returns from AU $2502 million to AU $2590 million (i.e., an increase of AU $88 million). When the current volume restrictions, exchange rates, and trading charges are accounted for, mean annual net returns reduced from AU $2590 million to AU $2573 million (i.e., a reduction of AU $17 million). The exclusion of any of the three southern MDB states from the interstate water trading imposes significant costs. If South Australia, New South Wales or Victoria withdraws from the water market, net returns are reduced by AU $27 million, AU $31 million and $63 million, respectively. The paper outlines the policy implications of strategies to remove market barriers and to facilitate efficient and effective water trading. Crown

Australia has seen a deep division in opinion in search of a carbon pricing mechanism. While concepts of carbon taxation and emission trading have comparable public support, climate scepticism is influencing the debates in political and public spheres in

We discuss the role and characteristics of water markets in Australia in facilitating efficient water allocation. Administrative, regulatory and/or political barriers to effective functioning of water markets are reviewed with a focus on the southern Murray-Darling Basin (MDB) region of Australia. A mathematical model is developed to estimate the costs of existing restrictions and the benefits from potential changes in water markets (e.g., removing barriers in temporary water markets). The modelling results reveal that expanding trade leads to an increase in mean annual net returns from AU $2502 million to AU $2590 million (i.e., an increase of AU $88 million). When the current volume restrictions, exchange rates, and trading charges are accounted for, mean annual net returns reduced from AU $2590 million to AU $2573 million (i.e., a reduction of AU $17 million). The exclusion of any of the three southern MDB states from the interstate water trading imposes significant costs. If South Australia, New South Wales or Victoria withdraws from the water market, net returns are reduced by AU $27 million, AU $31 million and $63 million, respectively. The paper outlines the policy implications of strategies to remove market barriers and to facilitate efficient and effective water trading. Crown

Australia has seen a deep division in opinion in search of a carbon pricing mechanism. While concepts of carbon taxation and emission trading have comparable public support, climate scepticism is infuencing the debates in political and public spheres in downplaying the need for carbon pricing. Public deliberation is a possible engagement option to address the conflict inherent in climate policy preferences. This research explores the way that a deliberative forum involving twenty-four Australians promoted effective communication between participants through which conflict between policy preferences became more tangible. While the forum did not eliminate disagreement in preferences in the choice of carbon pricing mechanisms, participants reached consensus on fundamental principles such as the need for trusted sources of information, trusted governance procedures, and transparent accountability by appropriate institutions. Shared political expectations encouraged dialogue and cooperation in discussions by enhancing reciprocal understanding. Two sceptical participants who originally had strong opinions different from the rest of the group managed to find common ground. Public deliberative forums that are conducive to reciprocal communication are able to provide a mechanism for joint problem-solving processes that are less adversarial and more responsive to the range of people's preferences.