30th Annual Conference of the European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists (EAERE) at NHH Norwegian School of Economics. Keynote speaker Robin Burgess (London School of Economics) and Tatyana Deryugina (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign).

18 June 2025 10:08

Environmental economists gather at NHH

More than 750 researchers, policymakers and industry experts are gathered in Bergen to discuss pressing questions in environmental and resource economics.

øystein thøgersen — NHH Rector Øystein Thøgersen welcomed participants this morning, setting the stage for three days of scientific dialogue and international collaboration. Photo: Sigrid Folkestad

Tuesday this week marked the official opening of the 30th Annual Conference of the European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists (EAERE) at the NHH Norwegian School of Economics.

`We are honored to host this milestone event in Bergen — a city and a university with deep roots in sustainability research, ‘says Professor Aline Bütikofer, chair of the Local Organizing Committee.

`We hope participants find both the programme and the surroundings inspiring´.

Better policy and business decisions

Throughout the week, participants can join more than 100 parallel sessions, thematic discussions and social events, including a reception in the historic NHH Aula and an evening at Mount Fløyen.

Linda Nøstbakken serves as President-Elect of EAERE and will take over as President in January 2026.

She emphasizes the importance of fostering an international research community in the field of climate and resource economics.

`Environmental and resource economics play a crucial role in providing solid, evidence-based insights for better policy and business decisions´, says Nøstbakken, Research Director of Statistics Norway and Professor (on leave) at NHH.

`Bringing researchers together like this is vital, she says, especially at a time when academic freedom and trust in science no longer can be taken for granted.

EAERE President-Elect EAERE Linda Nøstbakken (Statistics Norway and NHH) and Professor Aline Bütikofer (NHH), chair of the Local Organizing Committee, Emon Das (University of Helsinki) and Tigist Woldetsadik Sommeno (SNF). — EAERE President-Elect EAERE Linda Nøstbakken (Statistics Norway and NHH), chair of the Local Organizing Committee Aline Bütikofer (NHH), Emon Das (University of Helsinki) and Tigist Woldetsadik Sommeno (SNF). Photo: Sigrid Folkestad

She adds:

`It is inspiring to see so many researchers addressing the grand challenges of our time — from climate risks to green innovation. We need strong, well-documented science more than ever. And of course, it is also a pleasure to reconnect with old friends and colleagues, and to welcome new ones into the community´.

linda nøstbakken — Linda Nøstbakken, Research Director of Statistics Norway and Professor (on leave) at NHH. Photo: Sigrid Folkestad

Three keynotes

The EAERE conference received an exceptional number of high-quality submissions this year. During the week, there will be three keynotes from leading international scholars:

Robin Burgess (London School of Economics and International Growth Center), speaking on Innovation and the Environment. He will explore how innovation drives the clean energy transition, poverty resilience, and natural capital protection — with China’s solar power leadership as a case study.
Tatyana Deryugina (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign), presenting Wednesday on Understanding the Impacts of Natural Disasters. She will show how granular data reveals who is hit hardest by disasters and which policies can reduce long-term harm.
Catherine Wolfram (MIT Sloan School of Management), delivering the prestigious David Pearce Lecture on Thursday, titled Climate Progress in a Trump II World? She will discuss practical strategies for advancing global climate cooperation even if US federal leadership falters.

A new feature this year is the Science-Policy-Business Sessions, designed to strengthen ties between academics, decision-makers and industry. Selected sessions are also offered in a hybrid format to ensure broader participation and accessibility.