SERVICES

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PEER REVIEWED RESEARCH

CSE publishes research in academic journals or at educational institutions to help advance thinking on emerging sustainability issues that have not been well studied and which present challenges to decision makers who are ill-equipped to differentiate between objective science and research skewed by conflict of interest.

REPORTS AND TECHNICAL ANALYSES FOR PARTNERS AND CLIENTS

CSE works with nonprofit, business, government and educational partners and clients to provide economic and environmental analysis in support of strategic initiatives on a wide range of issues including forests, climate change, biodiversity, water and genuine economic progress.  We also work to help disseminate results to the media and target audiences.

EXPERT SUPPORT FOR LEGISLATIVE AND LEGAL INITIATVES.

CSE provides expert analysis and testimony in support of legislation being advanced by our partners. This includes drafting of model legislative vehicles at the federal, state, and local levels. We also prepare written and oral testimony during regulatory processes as well as declarations and affidavits in support of strategic litigation.

Featured Work

REGIONAL COST ESTIMATE OF REDUCING SALMON KILLING 6PPD-Q POLLUTION

Category: Expert Support for Litigation

Clients/Partners: Earthjustice


Overview:

In support of litigation under the Endangered Species Act, CSE produced a preliminary cost estimate of what it may cost to reduce the deadly salmonid pollutant 6PPD-Q through advanced stormwater treatment in California, Oregon and Washington.


Project outputs:

  • POST: 6PPD-Q: A deadly salmon pollutant lurks in stormwater runoff. Cost considerations for advanced treatment options.


  • REPORT: Talberth, J., 2025. A Preliminary Cost Estimate for Reducing 6PPD-Q Pollution of Salmonid Critical Habitat in the Pacific Northwest and Northern California. Port Townsend, WA: Center for Sustainable Economy.


DISINCENTIVIZING DEFORESTATION THROUGH FOREST CARBON TAX AND REWARD

Category: Peer Reviewed Research

Clients/Partners: Forest Carbon Coalition (FCC)


Overview:

CSE pioneered the concept of applying a tax on carbon pollution from deforestation and clearcutting with exemptions and credits designed to incentivize climate smart alternatives. This is one of the policy recommendations being advanced by the FCC.


Project outputs:

  • POST: Tax Clearcuts: Reward Climate Smart Practices.



THE ROLE OF CITIZEN SCIENCE IN CARBON OFFSET MARKETS

Category: Client Report

Clients/Partners: Adventure Scientists


Overview:

Adventure Scientists is one of the leading providers of citizen science to promote conservation. CSE completed a series of reports discussing the potential role of citizen science in carbon offset markets, such as verification of improved soil or forest conditions.

Project outputs:

  • REPORT: Memorandum 1: Carbon Market Overview


  • REPORT: Memorandum 2: Field Data Requirements for Carbon Credit Projects

CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION IN OREGON: WHAT WILL IT COST AND WHO WILL PAY?

Category: Peer Reviewed Research

Clients/Partners: Reed College and University of Oregon


Overview:

CSE prepared an analysis of costs associated with climate change adaptation measures being considered by federal and state agencies in Oregon and modeled how those costs could be covered by a ‘polluter pays’ surcharge on carbon emissions.

Project outputs:

  • REPORT: Talberth, J., Mietz, R., 2025. Climate Change Adaptation in Oregon: What will it cost and who will pay? Forum on Oregon Climate Change Economics. Reed College and University of Oregon.


  • POST: Oregon Remains Unprepared for the Costs of Climate Adaptation



U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar in front of US flag, wearing a headscarf, and smiling.

GENUINE PROGRESS INDICATOR ACT OF 2021

Category: Expert Support for Legislation

Clients/Partners: Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN)


Overview:

In 2017 CSE published an update to the Genuine Progress Indicator methodology and in 2021 consulted with Representative Omar on a bill designed to implement the GPI at the federal level. CSE drafted model legislation to help inform the bill design.

Project outputs:

  • POST: Ilhan Omar just introduced a bill to make people and the planet priorities for economic policy. 



  • PEER REVIEWED RESEARCH: Talberth, J., Weisdorf, M., 2017. Genuine Progress Indicator 2.0: Pilot Accounts for the US, Maryland, and. City of Baltimore 2012–2014. Ecological Economics 142 (2017): 1 – 11. 

ADVANCING FOSSIL FUEL RISK BONDS IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST

Category: Expert Support for Legislation

Clients/Partners: Multnomah and King Counties


Overview:

Both Multnomah County (OR) and King County (WA) have enacted resolutions and ordinances advancing the fossil fuel risk bond concept as developed by CSE. CSE provided model language, technical comments on drafts, and conducted a series of educational seminars.


Project outputs:

  • PEER REVIEWED RESEARCH: Talberth, J., Wysham, D., Mietz, R., 2024. Fossil fuel risk bond programs: A policy innovation makes headway in the Pacific Northwest. Washington, DC: Brookings.edu. 


  • LEGISLATION: King County Fossil Fuel Risk Bond Ordinance (2023-0092).



OPTIMIZING GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS IN THE CHESAPEAKE BAY

Category: Peer Reviewed Research

Clients/Partners: USDA Economic Research Service


Overview:

CSE modeled a ‘pay for performance’ approach for allocating investments in green infrastructure to reduce nutrient pollution into the Chesapeake Bay. This approach is more efficient and allows farmers more flexibility in choosing practices.

Project outputs:

  • PEER REVIEWED RESEARCH: Talberth, J., Selman, M., Walker, S., Gray, E., 2015. Pay for Performance: Optimizing public investments in agricultural best management practices in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. Ecological Economics 118 (2015): 252-261.

LIFE CYCLE GREEHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS FROM BOREAL FOREST LOGGING

Category: Technical Analysis for Client

Clients/Partners: Alex C. Walker Foundation


Overview:

CSE quantified the greenhouse gas emissions associated with clearcutting boreal forests in Ontario, CA for tissue paper. It also explored the use of border carbon adjustments as a way to scale up demand for alternative feedstocks like hemp and kenaf grown by US farmers.

Project outputs:

  • REPORT: A Preliminary Analysis of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Associated with Clearcut Logging on the Trout Lake and Wabigoon Concessions, Ontario, Canada.


  • POST: Boreal Forests Down the Toilet: New report documents the climate consequences of clearcutting Canada’s vanishing forests for tissue paper and paper towels.