This book examines the complex relationship between energy use, economic growth, and the environment, focusing on Argentina and its relevance to other Latin American countries and developing economies. It offers an interdisciplinary approach and policy recommendations to reconcile efforts to reduce, adapt, and mitigate climate change with sustainable development goals. Its interdisciplinary effort includes two chapters that lay on the intersection between Behavioral Science and climate change, highlighting the use of behavioral science to understand society's actions concerning climate change and how to reverse biases and promote more sustainable behaviors. The book also includes a unique contribution from undergraduate students, reflecting the growing demand of younger generations for intergenerational justice and concrete actions to protect the environment.
With a broad audience in mind, including academics, researchers, policymakers, and the general publicinterested in climate change, energy, and sustainable development, this volume offers a distinctive perspective not found in other publications.
Elisa Belfiori holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Minnesota and is a full-time professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies at the School of Business, Universidad Torcuato Di Tella. Before returning to Argentina, she was a tenure-track professor at Colorado State University and previously worked as a researcher at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis and the Central Bank of Argentina. Her research sits at the intersection of macroeconomics and climate change, with applications in public finance and a focus on the optimal design of climate policies. She is the co-editor of The Economics of Climate Change in Argentina (Springer, 2021) and a regular contributor to edited volumes, as well as an academic advisor for flagship climate policy reports produced by multilateral organizations. Her work has been published in leading journals such as the Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, European Economic Review, Economics of Energy and Environmental Policy, and Energy Policy. In 2016, she received the Distinguished CESifo Affiliate Award in Energy and Climate Economics.
Gastón Gertner holds a Master's degree in Public Affairs from Princeton University and specializes in impact evaluation and the design of behavioral-science informed interventions for public policy. He has over 15 years of experience leading applied research and development projects across Latin America in sectors such as housing, urban development, energy efficiency, infrastructure, social protection, health, and education. He has served as a consultant and advisor to governments, foundations, and international organizations including the Inter-American Development Bank, the World Bank, USAID, UNICEF, CAF, and AECID. From 2021 to 2024, he was Executive Director of the Center for Evaluation and Evidence-Based Policymaking (CEPE) at Universidad Torcuato Di Tella. In 2025-2026, he will join the Florence School of Transnational Governance at the European University Institute as a Policy Leader Fellow. His current work focuses on developing policy frameworks to accelerate the transition to zero-emission homes, with an emphasis on designing scalable strategies for replacing gas heating systems with efficient electric alternatives in urban neighborhoods.
