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Texas' Changing Economic Climate

Risks and opportunities in a carbon constrained world

Prince Charles opened the Texas' Changing Economic Climate conference with a video address.

Studies: Economic Opportunities
for Texas

The Socio-Economic Impact of Sea Level Rise in the Galveston Bay Region [PDF]
Full report: Costs and Benefits of Energy Efficiency Investments in Texas Buildings and Vehicles [PDF]
Policy summary: Costs and Benefits of Building Energy Efficiency Investments in Texas [PDF]
Policy summary: Costs and Benefits of Standards for Vehicle Emissions and Fuel Carbon-Content in Texas [PDF]

Environmental Defense Fund's Texas office has partnered with the UK to better understand a variety of cutting-edge policy and economic approaches to ensure Texans a successful transition to a new low-carbon world.

As a part of this partnership, we've put on a conference, have commissioned studies and have even sent Texas Legislators over to the UK to understand their approach to climate policy.

The anchor of the project is a report titled Texas at a Crossroads: The Case for Addressing Global Warming in Texas [PDF], which makes a compelling economic argument for Texas to become a national leader on climate policies.

Conference: Texas' Changing Economic Climate

In January, 2009, EDF, in partnership with the British Consulate, hosted Texas’ Changing Economic Climate: Risks and Opportunities in a Carbon Constrained World.

Held at the Texas State Capitol in Austin, Texas, this event provided Texas legislative, business, and community leaders insights on how taking early action on climate change can open possibilities for innovative economic frameworks using processes developed in the United Kingdom as a model.

In an overview, the potential impacts of climate change on the Texas environment and the subsequent implications on Texas’ economy were examined. For the remainder of the day, the conference highlighted discussions from top experts in science, policy, and technology from Texas, the U.S., and the U.K. who addressed economic policy strategies that promote timely action, innovative technologies, and sustainable competitiveness in a time of environmental change and economic pressure.

As an outcome, promising, cutting-edge policy and economic approaches were introduced that will help to ensure Texans a successful transition to a new low-carbon world.