The Environmental Markets Lab (emLab) is an interdisciplinary team of scientists based at the University of California Santa Barbara that conducts cutting-edge, data-driven research on the power, limitations, and design of market-based approaches to tackle the world's most pressing environmental problems. In collaboration with implementing partners, we aim to better align environmental objectives and economic incentives in support of sustainable livelihoods and a resilient planet.
Our Programs
Leveraging our diverse expertise, we generate timely insights into effective and equitable solutions for Climate & Energy, Land & Freshwater, Ocean & Fisheries, and People & Poverty.
![wind farm](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/images/programs/rawfilm-ihMzQV3lleo-unsplash.jpg?itok=ajuhFpDt)
Climate & Energy
Advancing effective and equitable climate solutions
![forest with river running through it](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/images/programs/adam-smigielski-SWa6EYLCac0-unsplash.jpg?itok=o3XOeHzz)
Land & Freshwater
Balancing multiple ecosystem services from the land
![school of fish](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/images/programs/sebastian-pena-lambarri-YV593oyMKmo-unsplash%20%281%29.jpg?itok=EPzoNHhp)
Ocean & Fisheries
Improving prosperity and sustainability of the ocean
![women picking crops](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/images/programs/bbh-singapore-d2hs0gRFCpQ-unsplash.jpg?itok=L7igeuZj)
People & Poverty
Strengthening the resilience of vulnerable communities and natural systems
emLab Blog: Our 2 Cents
Publications
An expansive literature has emerged providing recommendations for marine protected area (MPA) design. To provide a streamlined approach for practitioners, we created 24 condensed design guidelines grouped by conservation objectives to aid in MPA planning.
A market for 30x30 in the ocean
Villasenor-Derbez, Costello, and Plantinga 2024, Science
The shadow cost of mobile public bads
Tsao and Costello 2024, Journal of Environmental Economics and Management
Inequity in public sector energy efficiency? Explaining disparities in program budgets in California, United States
Le et al. 2024, Energy Research & Social Science
Regional disparities in health and employment outcomes of China's transition to a low-carbon electricity system
Yang et al. 2024, Environmental Research Energy