ELI Launches Project to Study the Energy and Environmental Implications of the Sharing Economy

Washington, DC –  The Environmental Law institute (ELI) announced today the launch of a new project to explore the energy and environmental implications of the sharing economy, with support for the initial research phase and workshop provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.  Sharing platforms such as Uber and Airbnb now have multi-billion dollar valuations and command increasing market shares in the transportation and accommodation sectors. This is just a small piece of an exploding sector of economic activity, which includes platforms for such activities as: bike sharing, clothes sharing, food sharing, work sharing, and general goods sharing. David Rejeski, who directs ELI’s project on Technology, Innovation and the Environment, noted that “Despite the massive growth in web-based sharing platforms over the past five years, there is very little research on their energy and environmental impacts or opportunities they could create to address environmental challenges. We hope this project will build a community and start a conversation that leads to a robust and well-funded research agenda.” Over the next six months, the project will bring together experts from industry, academia, government, and NGOs to develop a prioritized research agenda that can provide the basis for further funding and collaboration efforts.  “Technology is substantially reshaping our ability to efficiently use shared resources,” said Evan S. Michelson, Director of Sloan’s Energy and Environment program. “ELI is bringing much needed attention to an issue with potentially far reaching energy and environmental consequences for the rapidly changing twenty-first century economy.”    People who would like further information on the project are encouraged to contact Dave Rejeski at: sharingeconomy@eli.org.