ISA Panel on global North-to-South payments for environmental services (PES)

[Anthony Calacino]

Dear all,

Greetings! New member here, and I'm excited to join this community. I want to bring your attention to a panel I am organizing with a few colleagues for ISA about the political economy of global North-to-South payments for environmental services (PES). We have a few papers covering topics from the Amazon Fund in Brazil, to PES and collective action in Mexico. Please see the call below and email me with any questions. We already have a chair and two discussants and are looking for a few more papers.

Preliminary Title: The Political Economy of North-to-South Payments for Environmental Services (PES)

ISA Panel Proposal:
This panel aims to explore the political economy of North-to-South payments for environmental protection and conservation. It seeks to examine the financial arrangements made by developed countries in the global North to compensate developing countries in the global South for their efforts in environmental preservation. In recent years, there has been a growing trend of such agreements, including initiatives like the Amazon Fund and USAID projects. These agreements involve various forms of compensation, such as direct payments to NGOs or local governments. However, the effectiveness of these conservation efforts varies considerably.

While sending countries often gain domestic support and fulfill international commitments through these agreements, there is a dearth of research examining the political dynamics that shape the decision-making process in these countries. On the other hand, receiving countries face political challenges and tensions in implementing and managing such schemes. Unlike traditional development aid, payments for environmental services (PES) are often not targeted to benefit the general public directly. Additionally, concerns regarding corruption and greenwashing practices by receiving countries have emerged. Therefore, this panel aims to shed light on the political economy of North-to-South PES, encompassing the dynamics within both the global North and South countries, as well as the international factors influencing agreements between these actors.

We welcome submissions (abstract length of 200 words maximum) that employ a diverse range of research methodologies, including qualitative and quantitative approaches or multi-method. We encourage papers that contribute to both descriptive and theoretical understandings of the topic.

Organizer: Anthony Calacino, UT-Austin (anthony....@utexas.edu)
Chair: Gus Greenstein (Stanford University, soon Leiden University)
Discussants: Ishana Ratan (UC Berkeley), Iasmin Goes (Colorado State University)

Below are some questions that papers may address (but certainly not limited to these):

1. What factors influence the timing and decision-making process of North-to-South payment agreements?
2. How does the public in receiving countries perceive and respond to these payments?
3. Does the effectiveness of payment schemes and associated projects affect public opinion?
4. How can receiving countries leverage and utilize these payments for diplomatic purposes?
5. How do agreements on payments for environmental protection differ from other bilateral environmental treaties?
6. What role do corruption and governance quality play in North-to-South PES initiatives?
7. How might the emergence of international carbon markets disrupt government-directed funds?

ANTHONY CALACINO, Ph.D. Candidate 
Government Department 
University of Texas at Austin

www.anthonycalacino.com