Cost of Environmental Degradation — The Case of Lebanon and Tunisia

Abstract

This report is the first step in a process supported by the Mediterranean Environmental Technical Assistance Program (METAP), toward using environmental damage, cost assessments as an instrument for integrating environmental issues into economic, and social development. The specific objectives of this report are threefold: a) Provide an estimate of the cost of environmental degradation, using the most recent data available; b) Provide an analytical framework that can be applied periodically by professionals to assess the cost of environmental degradation over time; and, c) Provide a basis for a training program for ministries, agencies, institutes, and other interested parties to incorporate assessments of environmental degradation costs into policymaking, and environmental management. The report also provides cost estimates of select remedial actions that may be necessary to protect, and restore the environment, and, presents a discussion comparing damage and remediation costs, and the potential benefits of remedial action for some environmental issues. The cost of remediation has been estimated for a limited number of actions for each environmental category, and, although the cost of remediation is here the focus, and mainly of investments and programs, a discussion of the policy context is warranted. Reducing degradation, and protecting the environment should be viewed in the context of economic and sector policies, and development, and in the broader framework of environmental management. A comparison of benefits (reductions in damage) and costs (remedial actions), can be useful to point to environmental issues, for which benefits of remediation are likely to exceed the cost of remedial actions.