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Market-Based Instrument Research Network
Motu’s environmental research is primarily focused on the use and design of market based instruments. As part of this work, Motu has convened a decentralised but coordinated network to facilitate and integrate high quality research directly pertinent to the design, implementation and evaluation of market-based instruments. It will link existing and new research programmes and complement existing natural science networks while aiming to fill a critical gap in the policy making process.
As a result of the programme, central government and regional councils will be able to use cutting edge research on: measuring environmental values; design and ex ante comparison of policies (including projected costs and benefits); governance regimes and processes for building consensus and cooperation; and evaluation of actual policies, to design and operate market based instruments that effectively address water allocation, water quality and biodiversity protection, climate change mitigation and fisheries management.
Basic Principles of the Programme
Everyone in the programme is committed to these principles.
- Excellent quality research
- Objectivity
- Openness and communication in research process
- Building New Zealand’s capability to design, implement and evaluate market-based instruments
- High quality management of data and information resources
- Data sharing within programme (and outside as circumstances allow)
- Active dissemination of research results
Structure
Strategic advisory group
This is a group of top policy makers, stakeholders and academics who will comment on the usefulness and direction of the programme as a whole. They will provide input on strategic issues such as joint funding opportunities or concerns about lack of objectivity or quality. Members will receive and provide feedback on an annual programme report.
Current members are:
- Stan Crothers, Ministry of Fisheries
- Stuart Calman, Ministry of Economic Development
- Kevin Guerin, The Treasury
- Robert Stavins, Harvard University
- Paul Reynolds, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
- Bill Bayfield, Environment Bay of Plenty
The programme currently includes five substantive issues. These are:
- water quality
- water quantity (allocation)
- marine fisheries
- climate change
- biodiversity
It also addresses four conceptual issues. These are:
- setting environmental/resource management targets;
- design of market-based instruments including integrated simulation modelling;
- design, operation and evaluation of governance regimes and consensus building processes around environmental targets, allocation of responsibilities and programme design; and
- evaluation of actual programmes and pilot projects.
Leaders and Technical Advisory Group
The above nine areas each have a research ‘leader’ who jointly form the ‘Technical Advisory Group’. The research leaders were chosen during the programme development. They will choose their replacements in time with advice from those working within the area and the Strategic Advisory Group.
The Technical Advisory Group will provide advice to end-users/stakeholders who are looking for expertise relating to market-based instruments. They will accept new projects into the programme. They will advise on the potential for complementarity among projects and deal with potential competition within the programme. They will address strategic issues - e.g. joint funding opportunities; concerns about lack of objectivity or quality. They will ensure that communication occurs appropriately within the programme. In particular, they will ensure that regular programme and sub-programme workshops/conferences occur and facilitate international linkages for programme participants. The Technical Advisory Group will meet annually (or more often if needed).
Current members are:
- Water quality : Clive Howard Williams, NIWA
- Water quantity : Clive Howard Williams, NIWA
- Climate Change : David Wratt , NIWA
- Biodiversity : Susan Walker , Landcare Research
- Fisheries : Alistair Dunne, NIWA
- Targets : Frank Scrimgeour , University of Waikato
- Policy Design : Suzi Kerr , Motu
- Consensus/dialogue : David Fairman (interim), Consensus Building Institute , Cambridge MA
- Evaluation : Richard Newell (interim), Duke University
Specific projects
A project probably involves one funding source, but might cut across more than one issue or concept. Any specific project will involve two of these ‘leaders’, possibly only in an advisory capacity, but will have one ‘project leader’ who might be different. Projects will become part of the programme either because they are funded in a joint programme bid or because they apply to the Technical Advisory Group and make a case that their project fits within the scope of the programme and that they are willing and able to support the programme principles. Projects could then be administered contractually and financially through separate institutions. Projects that are closely related, but not formally involved in the programme will be encouraged to participate in research workshops and networks.
Individual researchers will be involved in projects. We will actively facilitate the involvement of good researchers in multiple projects in either an issue area or a concept area.
Intra-programme communication
This is the responsibility of all programme participants and will be facilitated in four more formal ways:
- Active development of cross cutting projects
- Joint and linked websites
- Annual workshops on each issue/concept cutting across projects
- Annual conference on market-based-instruments