Alex Bowen

In the lead up to the COP26 in Glasgow this article outlines the challenge of ensuring that countries meet their commitments to the Paris Agreement at a time of economic slowdown triggered by COVID-19. Read more

The economic case for limiting warming to 1.5°C is unclear, due to manifold uncertainties. However, it cannot be ruled out... Read more

This paper estimates the share of jobs in the US that would benefit from a transition to the green economy,... Read more

A deepening understanding of the importance of climate change has caused a recent and rapid increase in the number of... Read more

Headline issue Investors and financial regulators are increasingly aware of climate change risks. So far, most of the attention has... Read more

This study employs a number of Integrated Assessment Models to determine what the optimal financial transfers between high-income and developing economies would be if climate mitigation effort, measured as mitigation costs as a share of gross domestic product, were to be divided equally across regions through a global carbon market. Read more

This study uses a number of Integrated Assessment Models to determine what the optimal financial transfers between high-income and developing economies would be if climate mitigation costs were to be divided equally across regions. Read more

Integrated assessment models can help in quantifying the implications of international climate agreements and regional climate action. This paper reviews... Read more

‘Green growth’ is almost tautologically required for global welfare to rise in the long run. Economic growth is desirable, not... Read more

Ch. 15 in Atkinson, G., Dietz, S., Neumayer, E., and M. Agarwala (Ed.s) (2014): Handbook of sustainable development, 2nd edition,... Read more

This book focuses on the prospects for global agreement on climate change, how to encourage compliance with any such agreement and perspectives of key players in the negotiations. Read more

Building on simulations using Integrated Assessment Models and historical evidence, this paper explores some of the issues posed by this dual financing challenge. We discuss the "fiscal self-reliance" of the energy sector, finding that carbon pricing would generate sufficient fiscal revenues within each region to finance total investment in energy supply. Read more

Fankhauser, Samuel, Bowen, Alex, Calel, Raphael, Dechezlepretre, Antoine, Grover, David, Rydge, James and Sato, Misato (2013) Who will win the... Read more

Working Paper 122 –  Forthcoming in Climate Change Economics (August 2014) (read article) Abstract Transitioning to a low-carbon economy will... Read more

Bowen, Alex and Hepburn, Cameron. 2013. Chapter in Handbook On Energy And Climate Change Read more

Joint study by the Asian Development Bank and Asian Development Bank Institute. Read more

What is green growth? Read more

Working Paper 94 Abstract As the world considers greener forms of economic growth, countries and sectors are beginning to position... Read more

Working Paper 93 Abstract Debate about the relationship between environmental limits and economic growth has been taking place for several... Read more

‘Green’ growth, ‘green’ jobs and labour markets Read more

Reference Bowen, A., and Fankhauser, S. October 2011. The green growth narrative: paradigm shift or just spin? Global Environmental Change, v.21,... Read more

Abstract This article explores the principles that should guide efforts to raise finance for climate action in developing countries. The... Read more

Abstract The contribution of the least developed countries (LDCs) to the greenhouse gas problem is very small. LDCs accounted for... Read more

Working Paper 36 Abstract This article explores the principles that should guide efforts to raise finance for climate action in... Read more

Abstract This paper considers how environmental policies should respond to macroeconomic downturns. It first explores the implications of the global... Read more

Working Paper 16 Abstract We consider how environmental policies should respond to macroeconomic downturns. We first explore the implications of... Read more

This report investigates whether the evidence supports the reasons given by the Trump Administration to justify its decision to withdraw the United States from the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change, and concludes that the decision is irrational and does not promote the best interests of the American people. Read more

This is a response to the Bank of England's discussion paper, 'The 2021 biennial exploratory scenario on the financial risks from climate change'. The response has been prepared by authors from the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at LSE, the Grantham Institute – Climate Change and the Environment at Imperial College London, and the University of Edinburgh Business School. Read more

This brief argues that once the immediate rescue has been secured and countries move towards recovery from COVID-19, carefully implementing carbon pricing while reducing fossil fuel subsidies should be at the core of any stimulus package. Read more

In advance of the Budget, this policy report highlights areas of the UK economy where the public sector could leverage private investment and in so doing contribute to achieving the strategic priorities of regionally balanced growth and decarbonisation. Read more

This paper was submitted in response to the UK Government’s industrial strategy green paper: ‘Building our industrial strategy‘. Read more

This report is part of Finansinspektionen´s (FI’s) response to a request from the Swedish government to “Analyse and in a... Read more

This policy brief summarises the main policy implications of a two-year research programme, sponsored by the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), which aimed to contribute to the growing evidence base on green growth. Read more

Headline issue  Putting a price on greenhouse gas emissions – carbon pricing – is a powerful tool to encourage reductions in... Read more

Assessing the consequences of environmental policies for employment presents a considerable challenge, and at present it is not possible for policy-makers to assess conflicting claims about the quality and quantity of green jobs that have already been created, or may be created in the future. Read more

Bowen, Alex, 2014. Chapter in: The Global Development of Policy Regimes to Combat Climate Change, World Scientific Publishing. Link to publisher Read more

Bowen, Alex, 2014. Chapter in: The Global Development of Policy Regimes to Combat Climate Change, World Scientific Publishing. Link to publisher Read more

Energy use policies and carbon pricing in the UK Read more

Overview The Grantham Research Institute for Climate Change and the Environment and the Centre for Climate Change Economics and Policy (CCCEP) have... Read more

Summary This policy brief investigates the extent to which onshore wind can contribute to future electricity generation, whether there are... Read more

Carbon pricing, whether through emissions trading or taxes which discourage high-carbon behaviour, should be a fundamental pillar of policies designed... Read more

Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, London School of Economics with Simon Dietz and Alex Bowen. August 2011... Read more

The Grantham Research Institute for Climate Change and the Environment and the Centre for Climate Change Economics and Policy (CCCEP)... Read more

Alex Bowen and James Rydge, 2011. Chapter in: The Governance of Climate Change: Science, Politics and Ethics Link to publisher Read more

Executive summary The Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) are contemplating a range of goals... Read more

Mitigating climate change through reductions in greenhouse gas emissions: the science and economics of future paths for global annual emissions Read more

‘Meeting the Climate Challenge: Using Public Funds to Leverage Private Investment in Developing Countries’ is the output of a public/private... Read more

Nico Bauer (PIK), Alex Bowen (GRI, LSE), Steffen Brunner (PIK), Ottmar Edenhofer (PIK), Christian Flachsland (PIK ), Michael Jakob (... Read more

Alex Bowen, Samuel Fankhauser, Nicholas Stern and Dimitri Zenghelis   Read more

A deepening understanding of the importance of climate change has caused a recent and rapid increase in the number of... Read more

Ch. 15 in Atkinson, G., Dietz, S., Neumayer, E., and M. Agarwala (Ed.s) (2014): Handbook of sustainable development, 2nd edition,... Read more

This book focuses on the prospects for global agreement on climate change, how to encourage compliance with any such agreement and perspectives of key players in the negotiations. Read more

Joint study by the Asian Development Bank and Asian Development Bank Institute. Read more

A recent think tank report that predicts significant disruption to jobs in the UK from the transition to net-zero emissions uses a potentially misleading method, argues Alex Bowen, whose own analysis shows that, with the right policies, the transition could benefit workers throughout the country. Read more

Alex Bowen contends that policymakers should react to the climate emergency by adopting the new 'green growth' paradigm, changing the nature of economic growth by moving the emphasis away from resource exploitation and towards the generation and use of ideas. Read more

President Trump is due to make an announcement later today about whether he intends to withdraw the United States from... Read more

Financial Times, 1 May Read more

Harvard Business Review, 14 April Read more

CNBC, 5 April Read more

The Week, 5 April Read more

Guardian, 4 April Read more

Reuters, 4 April Read more

Bloomberg, 3 December Content only available to subscribers Read more

BusinessGreen, 9 November Read more

EurActiv, 9 November Read more

There is a danger that the current tinkering to subsidies and taxes affecting renewables in the UK will result in incoherence that will hinder efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Read more

Much of the attraction of ‘green’ growth to politicians and policy-makers is the apparent promise of job creation.  Many developing... Read more

Carbon Trading (March issue; pages 34-35) Read more

There is much talk at the moment about green growth – environmentally sustainable, biodiverse, low-carbon and climate-resilient growth in human... Read more

With the Republican Party and a good many Democrats currently opposed to sanctioning any meaningful reduction in greenhouse gas emissions,... Read more

On 5 July 2011, the European Parliament will be asked to endorse an increase in the European Union’s target for... Read more

The OECD report concluded that, "to meet ambitious climate change targets [in the UK] and reduce emissions, higher and more consistent carbon prices are needed. Climate change is a global challenge, and working for higher, more broadly based and stable carbon prices within the European Union should be a priority." Read more

The Conservative party conference in Birmingham may be the focus of UK politics this week, but government representatives will be... Read more

The Guardian, 2 September  2010 Read more

Nicholas Stern, Alex Bowen and Sam Fankhauser: We still have a long way to go, but this week’s climate decisions... Read more

Governments can commit to plans stimulating economic recovery and sustainable low-carbon growth the Guardian Read more