Rich Howarth is an environmental and ecological economist who studies the interface between economic theory and the ecological, moral, and social dimensions of environmental governance. His topical interests focus on energy use, climate change, and ecological conservation. His research and teaching emphasize themes that include the role of discounting, sustainability, and intergenerational fairness in policy evaluation; mathematical models of the relationship between economic growth, environmental quality, and human well-being; the interplay between economics, ethics, and deliberative politics in valuing and managing ecological resources; and the role of public policies in promoting the adoption of pro-environmental behaviors and technologies.