REIS Seminar: Denise Konan, "Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Hawaii"
Philip Johnson
Denise Eby Konan
Professor, Economics
University of Hawaii
Holmes Hall 244
Thursday, October 8, 2009
4:30 – 5:30 pm
Abstract
Hawaii has committed to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to
1990 levels by 2020. This research presentation uses detailed data on
Hawaii's energy infrastructure and economic activities to determine
the carbon intensity of Hawaii industries. New results are also
presented on the role that visitor expenditures play in Hawaii's GHG
emission profile, relative to residential activities. Counterfactual
scenarios provide indications of GHG savings associated with energy
efficiency in terms of electricity, gasoline, and energy. A key result
is that visitors generate 4.4 times the GHG emissions of an average
resident on a per-day basis. Electricity efficiency gains in hotels
and health services offer high prospects for GHG reduction. Gasoline
conservation in a wide variety of ground transportation services would
also significantly lower GHG emissions.
About the speaker:
Denise Eby Konan is a Professor of Economics at the Univ. of Hawai‘i
at Manoa. She is the Director of the Center for Sustainable Coastal
Tourism (Sea Grant). She is also a Research Fellow in UHERO, where she
heads the Energy and Greenhouse Gas Solutions (EGGS) project. A noted
international trade economist, Konan has worked extensively in
countries in the Middle East and North Africa. She has been a
consultant to the World Bank, the Council of Foreign Relations and
various foreign and national governments. She is known for her
research on regional economic integration, multilateral trading
systems (WTO), trade in services, foreign direct investment,
greenhouse gas mitigation policy, and intellectual property rights.
Between 2005 and 2007 she was the interim Chancellor of the Univ. of
Hawai‘i at Manoa. During her leadership, she launched the Year of the
Student campaign and promoted sustainability and international
education. She has also served as Department Chair and Assistant Vice
Chancellor for Academic Affairs. Konan is affiliated faculty in the
UH-Manoa Global Environmental Sciences program and a Fellow in the
International Center for Climate and Society. She will be a visiting
professor at the American Business School in Paris, Jan. 2010. She
received her undergraduate degree from Goshen College and her Ph.D.
from the Univ. of Colorado.
Video and Slides:
Available after the talk.