The Colby Echo

Issue date: 4/23/08 Section: Green Page

Media Credit: Thomas Bollier Mitchell Family Professor of Economics Tom Tietenberg.

Mitchell Family Professor of Economics Tom Tietenberg claims he's "no paragon of green." And yet the professor, who literally wrote the book on emissions trading, has emerged as a source of knowledge about climate change for the College and the international community. He plans to retire next year; "retire" being a relative term. His list of future commitments and activities beyond teaching include serving on the Board of Directors for Maine's Natural Resources Council, continuing to work on his textbook, Environmental and Natural Resource Economics, testifying before the state legislature on climate change policy, various speaking engagements and serving on panels for the National Academy of Sciences. "I'll have some kick-back time," he said. "But my workaholism will probably continue relatively unabated."

Tietenberg came to the College in fall of 1977. He said he has witnessed much change since then, including new physical facilities and the growth in interdisciplinary studies. "[The College] is now more sensitive to interdisciplinary studies," Tietenberg, who is affiliated with the Environmental Studies department, said. "Interdisciplinary studies are the ultimate liberal arts. I firmly believe in a variety of perspectives [in education]. These different perspectives help put the major together. It's an active process."

This holds true for many environmental problems, including climate change. "You need knowledge of science, politics, ethics and economics" to solve climate change. Tietenberg represents this synthesis of perspectives. Trained primarily in economics, Tietenberg said he started out "primarily intellectually interested" in environmental issues, which he described as "absolutely fascinating [....] As I learned more, I found myself moving from the column of dispassionate academic to activist."

"Students played a large role in changing me," Tietenberg said, "They are passionate and committed, and that's what makes a difference." This type of action has changed the College as well, he noted. "[Environmental awareness] has become a part of the process. The institution has gone from caring intellectually to now caring about its role in the environment and how it can participate consciously. There has been tremendous change in the past decade."

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