Abstract

Information policy refers to mechanisms targeting behavior such as labeling, advertising and media campaigns, community outreach, public education programs, direct feedback, etc. Such policies seek to achieve their goals through the provision of knowledge that would not otherwise be easily available or is not already provided by existing information sources (schools, newspapers, etc.). Information programs based upon labeling are in use in a variety of policy areas, e.g. appliance energy consumption and nutrition. However, in the United States few comprehensive studies of how to best design such as programs have been completed (duPont 1998). Such comprehensive evaluation and research is essential if effective information policies are to be designed andimplemented.

Panels of

Panel 1: Policy (incentives, normative measures, policy mixes to achive CO_2 reduction)

Panel 2: Technologies and Products (innovation, marketing, market transformation)

Panel 4: Environmental Perspective (externalities and life cycle approaches, local and global impacts and incentatives)

Panel 3: Dynamics of Consumption (social and cultural perspectives, actors and their interactions)

Panel 5: Land use,Transportation and infrastructure (urban and regional planning, approaches to change in well entrenched systems)