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The use of cost–benefit analysis in environmental policies: Some issues raised by the Water Framework Directive implementation in France

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  • Feuillette, Sarah
  • Levrel, Harold
  • Boeuf, Blandine
  • Blanquart, Stéphanie
  • Gorin, Olivier
  • Monaco, Guillaume
  • Penisson, Bruno
  • Robichon, Stéphane

Abstract

This paper aims to practically contribute to the literature on the use of cost–benefit analysis (CBA) and economic evaluation in environmental decision-making through a practical case study: the implementation of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) in France, for the first cycle (2010–2015). The WFD requires that Member States achieve “good status” for all water bodies in 2015. However, exemptions can apply, if justified, on natural, technical or economic reasons. For the latter, EU guidance documents recommend to use CBA. In France, the water agencies carried out 710 CBAs on proposed restoration projects for water bodies. This article reports on this experience. Issues concerning these analyses are discussed, especially the assessment of non-market benefits. Finally, this article questions the use of economic analysis in the implementation of environmental policy.

Suggested Citation

  • Feuillette, Sarah & Levrel, Harold & Boeuf, Blandine & Blanquart, Stéphanie & Gorin, Olivier & Monaco, Guillaume & Penisson, Bruno & Robichon, Stéphane, 2016. "The use of cost–benefit analysis in environmental policies: Some issues raised by the Water Framework Directive implementation in France," Environmental Science & Policy, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 79-85.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:enscpo:v:57:y:2016:i:c:p:79-85
    DOI: 10.1016/j.envsci.2015.12.002
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    Cited by:

    1. Woodhouse, P. & Muller, M., 2017. "Water Governance—An Historical Perspective on Current Debates," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 225-241.
    2. Scemama, Pierre & Levrel, Harold, 2019. "Influence of the Organization of Actors in the Ecological Outcomes of Investment in Restoration of Biodiversity," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 157(C), pages 71-79.
    3. Sofia, Daniele & Gioiella, Filomena & Lotrecchiano, Nicoletta & Giuliano, Aristide, 2020. "Cost-benefit analysis to support decarbonization scenario for 2030: A case study in Italy," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).
    4. Perni, Ángel & Barreiro-Hurlé, Jesús & Martínez-Paz, José Miguel, 2020. "When policy implementation failures affect public preferences for environmental goods: Implications for economic analysis in the European water policy," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 169(C).
    5. Tariq Aziz & Alain-Désiré Nimubona & Philippe Van Cappellen, 2023. "Comparative Valuation of Three Ecosystem Services in a Canadian Watershed Using Global, Regional, and Local Unit Values," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-17, July.
    6. Xin Li & Konstantinos J. Chalvatzis & Phedeas Stephanides, 2018. "Innovative Energy Islands: Life-Cycle Cost-Benefit Analysis for Battery Energy Storage," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-19, September.
    7. Dallimer, Martin & Martin-Ortega, Julia & Rendon, Olivia & Afionis, Stavros & Bark, Rosalind & Gordon, Iain J. & Paavola, Jouni, 2020. "Taking stock of the empirical evidence on the insurance value of ecosystems," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    8. Gabrielle Bouleau & Rémi Barbier & Marie-Pierre Halm-Lemeille & Bruno Tassin & Arnaud Buchs & Florence Habets, 2020. "Despite great expectations in the Seine River Basin, the WFD did not reduce diffuse pollution," Post-Print halshs-02957812, HAL.
    9. Borrego-Marín, María M. & Berbel, J., 2019. "Cost-benefit analysis of irrigation modernization in Guadalquivir River Basin," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 212(C), pages 416-423.
    10. Angelos Alamanos & Tatiana Pliakou & Efi Tritopoulou & Phoebe Koundouri & Lydia Papadaki, 2021. "Water Resources Management and the situation of the Water District of Thessaly. Report of the Project of the Athenian Brewery 'Water for Tomorrow'," DEOS Working Papers 2117, Athens University of Economics and Business.
    11. Alcon, Francisco & Zabala, José A. & Martínez-Paz, José M., 2022. "Assessment of social demand heterogeneity to inform agricultural diffuse pollution mitigation policies," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).

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