This thing happens once every four years. All the best environmental economists are in Kyoto, Japan, all week, for "WC3". Not me, though, I've decided if I'm not invited to give a plenary talk then I'm not going. So there.
And here is the "welcome to WC3" from the presidents of AERE, EAERE and SEEPS:
Ladies and Gentleman, we would like to celebrate the fact that so many people have joined the World Congress. The World Congress of Environmental and Resource Economists first convened in Venice, in 1998, with the aim of becoming a place for global communication among economists concerned about environmental/resource issues and policies. The Congress has met every four years since that time, the second was in Monterey, in 2002, and this year it has assembled here in Kyoto - the first gathering to be held outside Europe and the United States. As the first Congress to be held in Asia, there has been a strong increase in the number of participants from Asian countries as well as those from non-Western regions, and a total of more than 60 countries are now represented. We would like to celebrate, with all of you, an event that has literally become a “World” Congress.
Humanity is faced with the question of how to realize the sustainable development of society. We have, for instance, to find an intragenerational and intergenerational equitable solution to the issue of climate change. What do we have to do in order to transition into a sustainable society? The development of Environmental and Resource Economics will contribute to the solution to such profound questions. It is suggestive that this Congress is being held in Kyoto, the place where the Kyoto Protocol was adopted.
It is our hope that through an active exchange of ideas, the participants will be able to deepen their interactions, so the world may see that our efforts can contribute to the development of a sustainable society. We also urge you to enjoy the city of Kyoto, one of the most beautiful cities in the world. In closing, we would like to thank all those involved in the preparation of this event, and celebrate its success.
Sounds like a great time/place to be an environmental economist.
