Climate change mitigation potential of wetlands and the cost-effectiveness of their restoration

The cost-effective mitigation of climate change through nature-based carbon dioxide removal strategies has gained substantial policy attention. Inland and coastal wetlands (specifically boreal, temperate and tropical peatlands; tundra; floodplains; freshwater marshes; saltmarshes; and mangroves) are among the most efficient natural long-term carbon sinks. Yet, they also release methane (CH 4 ) that can offset the carbon they sequester. Here, we conducted a meta-analysis on wetland carbon dynamics to (i) determine their impact on climate using different metrics and time horizons, (ii) investigate the cost-effectiveness of wetland restoration for climate change mitigation, and (iii) discuss their suitability for inclusion in climate policy as negative emission technologies. Depending on metrics, a wetland can simultaneously be a net carbon sink (i.e. boreal and temperate peatlands net ecosystem carbon budget = −28.1 ± 19.13 gC m −2 y −1 ) but have a net warming effect on climate at the 100 years time-scale (i.e. boreal and temperate peatland sustained global warming potential = 298.2 ± 100.6 gCO 2 eq −1 m −2 y −1 ). This situation creates ambivalence regarding the effect of wetlands on global temperature. Moreover, our review reveals high heterogeneity among the (limited number of) studies that document wetland carbon budgets. We demonstrate that most coastal and inland wetlands have a net cooling effect as of today. This is explained by the limited CH 4 emissions that undisturbed coastal wetlands produce, and the long-term carbon sequestration performed by older inland wetlands as opposed to the short lifetime of CH 4 in the atmosphere. Analysis of wetland restoration costs relative to the amount of carbon they can sequester revealed that restoration is more cost-effective in coastal wetlands such as mangroves (US$1800 ton C −1 ) compared with inland wetlands (US$4200–49 200 ton C −1 ). We advise that for inland wetlands, priority should be given to conservation rather than restoration; while for coastal wetlands, both conservation and restoration may be effective techniques for climate change mitigation.

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Short- and long-term warming effects of methane may affect the cost-effectiveness of mitigation policies and benefits of low-meat diets

Nature Food ◽

10.1038/s43016-021-00385-8 ◽

2021 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ignacio Pérez-Domínguez ◽

Agustin del Prado ◽

Klaus Mittenzwei ◽

Jordan Hristov ◽

Stefan Frank ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cost Effectiveness ◽

Emission Reduction ◽

Climate Change Mitigation ◽

Global Climate ◽

Mitigation Measures ◽

Short And Long Term ◽

The Cost ◽

Change Mitigation ◽

Mitigation Policies

AbstractMethane’s short atmospheric life has important implications for the design of global climate change mitigation policies in agriculture. Three different agricultural economic models are used to explore how short- and long-term warming effects of methane can affect the cost-effectiveness of mitigation policies and dietary transitions. Results show that the choice of a particular metric for methane’s warming potential is key to determine optimal mitigation options, with metrics based on shorter-term impacts leading to greater overall emission reduction. Also, the promotion of low-meat diets is more effective at reducing greenhouse gas emissions compared to carbon pricing when mitigation policies are based on metrics that reflect methane’s long-term behaviour. A combination of stringent mitigation measures and dietary changes could achieve substantial emission reduction levels, helping reverse the contribution of agriculture to global warming.

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Optimal investment and scheduling of residential multi-energy systems including electric mobility: A cost-effective approach to climate change mitigation

Applied Energy ◽

10.1016/j.apenergy.2021.117445 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 301 ◽

pp. 117445

Author(s):

Moritz Mittelviefhaus ◽

Giacomo Pareschi ◽

James Allan ◽

Gil Georges ◽

Konstantinos Boulouchos

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Climate Change Mitigation ◽

Energy Systems ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Optimal Investment ◽

Electric Mobility ◽

Cost Effective Approach ◽

Change Mitigation

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The Cost-Effectiveness of an RCT to Establish Whether 5 or 10 Years of Bisphosphonate Treatment Is the Better Duration for Women With a Prior Fracture

Medical Decision Making ◽

10.1177/0272989x09336077 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 29 (6) ◽

pp. 678-689 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Matt D. Stevenson ◽

Jeremy E. Oakley ◽

Myfawny Lloyd Jones ◽

Alan Brennan ◽

Juliet E. Compston ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cost Effectiveness ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Fracture Prevention ◽

Published Data ◽

Bisphosphonate Treatment ◽

Net Benefit ◽

England And Wales ◽

Term Efficacy ◽

The Cost

Purpose. Five years of bisphosphonate treatment have proven efficacy in reducing fractures. Concerns exist that long-term bisphosphonate treatment may actually result in an increased number of fractures. This study evaluates, in the context of England and Wales, whether it is cost-effective to conduct a randomized controlled trial (RCT) and what sample size may be optimal to estimate the efficacy of bisphosphonates in fracture prevention beyond 5 years. Method. An osteoporosis model was constructed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of extending bisphosphonate treatment from 5 years to 10 years. Two scenarios were run. The 1st uses long-term efficacy data from published literature, and the 2nd uses distributions elicited from clinical experts. Results of a proposed RCT were simulated. The expected value of sample information technique was applied to calculate the expected net benefit of sampling from conducting such an RCT at varying levels of participants per arm and to compare this with proposed trial costs. Results. Without further information, the better duration of bisphosphonate treatment was estimated to be 5 years using the published data but 10 years using the elicited expert opinions, although in both cases uncertainty was substantial. The net benefit of sampling was consistently high when between 2000 and 5000 participants per arm were recruited. Conclusions. An RCT to evaluate the long-term efficacy of bisphosphonates in fracture prevention appears to be cost-effective for informing decision making in England and Wales.

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Cost-effective Analysis of Proton Pump Inhibitors in Long-term Management of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: A Narrative Review

Hospital Pharmacy ◽

10.1177/0018578719893378 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 55 (5) ◽

pp. 292-305

Author(s):

Shazia Jamshed ◽

Akshaya Srikanth Bhagavathula ◽

Sheikh Muhammad Zeeshan Qadar ◽

Umaira Alauddin ◽

Sana Shamim ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cost Effectiveness ◽

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease ◽

Cost Effective ◽

The Other ◽

Cost Effectiveness Ratio ◽

On Demand ◽

Step Down ◽

The Cost ◽

Term Management

Background: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common gastrointestinal disorder that results from regurgitation of acid from the stomach into the esophagus. Treatment available for GERD includes lifestyle changes, antacids, histamine-2 receptor antagonists (H2RAs), proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), and anti-reflux surgery. Aim: The aim of this review is to assess the cost-effectiveness of the use of PPIs in the long-term management of patients with GERD. Method: We searched in PubMed to identify related original articles with close consideration based on inclusion and exclusion criteria to choose the best studies for this narrative review. The first section compares the cost-effectiveness of PPIs with H2RAs in long-term heartburn management. The other sections shall only discuss the cost-effectiveness of PPIs in 5 different strategies, namely, continuous (step-up, step-down, and maintenance), on-demand, and intermittent therapies. Results: Of 55 articles published, 10 studies published from 2000 to 2015 were included. Overall, PPIs are more effective in relieving heartburn in comparison with ranitidine. The use of PPIs in managing heartburn in long-term consumption of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) has higher cost compared with H2RA. However, if the decision-maker is willing to pay more than US$174 788.60 per extra quality-adjusted life year (QALY), then the optimal strategy is traditional NSAID (tNSAID) and PPIs. The probability of being cost-effective was also highest for NSAID and PPI co-therapy users. On-demand PPI treatment strategy showed dominant with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of US$2197 per QALY gained and was most effective and cost saving compared with all the other treatments. The average cost-effectiveness ratio was lower for rabeprazole therapy than for ranitidine therapy. Conclusion: Our review revealed that long-term treatment with PPIs is effective but costly. To achieve long-term cost-effective approach, we recommend on-demand approach to treat heartburn symptoms, but if the symptoms persist, treatment with continuous step-down therapy should be applied.

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Cost-Effectiveness of an Obesity Management Program for 6- to 15-Year-Old Children in Poland: Data from Over Three Thousand Participants

Obesity Facts ◽

10.1159/000509130 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (5) ◽

pp. 487-498

Author(s):

Ewa Bandurska ◽

Michał Brzeziński ◽

Paulina Metelska ◽

Marzena Zarzeczna-Baran

Keyword(s):

Cost Effectiveness ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Management Program ◽

Obesity And Overweight ◽

School Programs ◽

Overweight Group ◽

Research Findings ◽

Public Health Challenge ◽

The Cost

Background: Obesity and overweight, including childhood obesity and overweight, pose a public health challenge worldwide. According to the available research findings, long-term interventions focusing on dietary behavior, physical activity, and psychological support are the most effective in reducing obesity in children aged 6–18 years. There are limited studies showing the financial effectiveness of such interventions. Objective: The objective of the present study was to evaluate cost-effectiveness of the 6-10-14 for Health weight management program using pharmacoeconomic indicators, i.e., cost-effectiveness analysis using the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio. Methods: We used anthropometric data of 3,081 children included in a 1-year-long intervention with a full financial cost assessment. Results: The cost of removing a child from the overweight group (BMI >85th percentile) was PLN 27,758 (EUR 6,463), and the cost of removing a child from the obese group (BMI >95th percentile) was slightly lower, i.e., PLN 23,601 (EUR 5,495). Given the obesity-related medical costs calculated in the life-long perspective, these results can be considered encouraging. At the same time, when comparing the total costs per participant with the costs of other interventions, it can be noted that they are similar to the costs of school programs containing more than 1 type of intervention. Conclusions: The 6-10-14 for Health program can be considered cost-effective. As a result of committing financial resources in the approximate amount of EUR 1,790 per child, around half of the children participating in the program have improved their weight indicators.

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Insurrection for land, sea and dignity: resistance and autonomy against wind energy in Álvaro Obregón, Mexico

Journal of Political Ecology ◽

10.2458/v25i1.22863 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 25 (1) ◽

pp. 120 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Alexander Dunlap

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Wind Energy ◽

Climate Change Mitigation ◽

Social Divisions ◽

Sand Bar ◽

Wind Energy Development ◽

The Village ◽

The Town ◽

Change Mitigation

Providing a glimpse into the reality of wind energy development, the story of Álvaro Obregón is one of resistance. Álvaro Obregón is a primarily Zapotec semi-subsistence community located near the entrance of the Santa Teresa sand bar (Barra), where in 2011 Mareña Renovables initiated the process of building 102 wind turbines. Demonstrating the complicated micro-politics of land acquisition, conflict and unrest, this article argues that climate change mitigation initiatives are sparking land grabs and conflict with the renewed valuation of wind resources. Insurrection against the Mareña Renovables wind project has spawned a long-term conflict, which has created social divisions and a type of low-intensity civil war within the town. This article will chronicle the uprising against the wind company, battles with police, and the town hall takeover, which includes analyzing the conflict taking place between the cabildo comunitario and the constitucionalistas. Subsequent sections examine the different perspectives within the village and how this battle between the Communitarians and the wind company continues today. The article reveals the complications associated with land deals, the conflict generating potential of climate change mitigation practices and, finally, concludes by reflecting on the difficulties of formulating alternatives to development within a conflict situation.

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Cost-Effectiveness of a Problem-Solving Intervention Aimed to Prevent Sickness Absence among Employees with Common Mental Disorders or Occupational Stress

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17145234 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (14) ◽

pp. 5234

Author(s):

Marijke Keus Van De Poll ◽

Gunnar Bergström ◽

Irene Jensen ◽

Lotta Nybergh ◽

Lydia Kwak ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cost Effectiveness ◽

Problem Solving ◽

Mental Disorders ◽

Sickness Absence ◽

Common Mental Disorders ◽

Cost Benefit ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Production Loss ◽

The Cost

The cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness of a work-directed intervention implemented by the occupational health service (OHS) for employees with common mental disorders (CMD) or stress related problems at work were investigated. The economic evaluation was conducted in a two-armed clustered RCT. Employees received either a problem-solving based intervention (PSI; n = 41) or care as usual (CAU; n = 59). Both were work-directed interventions. Data regarding sickness absence and production loss at work was gathered during a one-year follow-up. Bootstrap techniques were used to conduct a Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) and a Cost-Effectiveness Analysis (CEA) from both an employer and societal perspective. Intervention costs were lower for PSI than CAU. Costs for long-term sickness absence were higher for CAU, whereas costs for short-term sickness absence and production loss at work were higher for PSI. Mainly due to these costs, PSI was not cost-effective from the employer’s perspective. However, PSI was cost-beneficial from a societal perspective. CEA showed that a one-day reduction of long-term sickness absence costed on average €101 for PSI, a cost that primarily was borne by the employer. PSI reduced the socio-economic burden compared to CAU and could be recommended to policy makers. However, reduced long-term sickness absence, i.e., increased work attendance, was accompanied by employees perceiving higher levels of production loss at work and thus increased the cost for employers. This partly explains why an effective intervention was not cost-effective from the employer’s perspective. Hence, additional adjustments and/or support at the workplace might be needed for reducing the loss of production at work.

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