Environmental degradation is more than just an ecological issue, it’s also a societal problem. It’s in humanity’s long-term interest to steward the Earth and the resources and services it provides. So why does it seem so difficult to get people to do what will serve them best over time?

The answer comes down to how incentives are laid out. By getting incentives right, we can produce the behavior we want. That’s economics 101, and precisely what Professor Andrew Plantinga of UC Santa Barbara’s Bren School of Environmental Science & Management has dedicated his career to studying.

Plantinga has been elected a fellow of the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists (AERE), which honors as many as three scholars annually. The fellowship is the highest honor bestowed in the field of environmental and resource economics, recognizing individuals that “have demonstrated a significant contribution to the advancement of the profession,” according to AERE.

“It is a proud moment for our campus to see Professor Plantinga elected as a fellow of the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists,” said Chancellor Henry T. Yang. “This prestigious recognition reflects his outstanding interdisciplinary research contributions through the integration of economics, forestry, ecology and climate science, as well as his unwavering commitment to scholarly excellence.

“Professor Plantinga’s work exemplifies the Bren School’s mission to advance sustainable environmental solutions through rigorous research and education,” Yang continued. “On behalf of the UC Santa Barbara community, I extend our heartfelt congratulations to him on this distinguished honor.”