Rimjhim Aggarwal
- Senior Sustainability Scientist, Global Institute of Sustainability
- Teaching Faculty, School of Sustainability
- Associate Professor, School of Sustainability
- Chair, Undergraduate Standards Committee, School of Sustainability
School of Sustainability
Arizona State University
PO Box 875502
Tempe, AZ 85287
Phone:
480-965-6680
Fax:
480-965-8087
Email:
Rimjhim.Aggarwal@asu.edu
Biography
Dr. Aggarwal's research and teaching interests lie at the interface between sustainability science and international development. A central focus of her research has been on examining the links between globalization, resilience of social-ecological systems, and human well being. In current research she is examining the emerging conflicts in the framing of water as a human right as well as an economic, ecological and social good in rapidly urbanizing regions, with focus on Delhi, São Paulo and Johannesburg. She is also currently engaged in research projects examining the impacts of globalization and climate change on agricultural and water governance, farm livelihoods, and food security in India, Nepal, Thailand, and Arizona. Dr. Aggarwal has also worked as a senior consultant for the United Nations University's World Institute for Development Economics Research and the World Bank. In recognition of her efforts in "use-inspired research" and "community outreach," Dr. Aggarwal was awarded the Arizona State University President's Award for Sustainability in 2010.
Expertise
resource economics; water conflicts; poverty; water resource management; agriculture; bioeconomics; climate change impacts; decisionmaking; economic adaptation and climate change; econometrics; economic development; ecosystem services; environmental policy; urban development;Courses
- SOS 322/598/SGS 394: International Development and Sustainability
- SOS 325: Economics of Sustainability
- SOS 400: Sustainable Use of Environmental Resources
- SOS 494/594: Workshop Course: Sustainable Development in Action
Education
- Ph.D., Economics, Cornell University, 1995
- M.A., Economics, Jawaharlal Nehru University, 1989
- B.A., Economics, Delhi University, 1987
Journal Articles
Aggarwal, R. M. 2006. Globalization, local ecosystems, and the rural poor. World Development 34:1405-1418. (link)
Aggarwal, R. M. 2007. Role of risk sharing and transaction costs in contract choice: Theory and evidence from groundwater contracts. Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization 63:475-496. (link)
Aggarwal, R. M. In press. Strategic bundling of development policies with adaptation: An examination of Delhi climate change action plan. International Journal of Urban and Regional Research.
Aggarwal, R. M. 2000. Possibilities and limitations to cooperation in small groups: The case of group-owned wells in southern India. World Development 28:1481-1497. (link)
Aggarwal, R., S. Guhathakurta, S. Grossman-Clarke and V. Lathey. 2012. How do variations in urban heat islands in space and time influence household water use? The case of Phoenix, Arizona. Water Resources Research 48:W06518. (link)
Aggarwal, R. M. and E. Lichtenberg. 2005. Pigouvian taxatin under double moral hazard. Journal of Environmental Economics and Management 49:301-310. (link)
Aggarwal, R. M. and T. A. Narayan. 2004. Does inequality lead to greater efficiency in the use of local commons? The role of strategic investments in capacity. Journal of Environmental Economics and Management 47:163-182. (link)
Aggarwal, R. M., S. Netanyahu and C. Romano. 2001. Access to natural resources and the fertility decision of women: The case of South Africa. Environment and Development Economics 6:209-236. (link)
Aggarwal, R. M. and J. J. Rous. 2006. Awareness and quality of knowledge regarding HIV/AIDS among women in India. The Journal of Development Studies 42:371-401. (link)
de Sherbinin, A., L. K. VanWey, K. McSweeney, R. M. Aggarwal, A. Barbieri, S. Henry, L. M. Hunter, W. Twine and R. Walker. 2008. Rural household demographics, livelihoods and the environment. Global Environmental Change 18:38--53. (link)
Haglund, L. and R. M. Aggarwal. 2011. Test of our progress: The translation of economic and social rights norms into practice. Journal of Human Rights 10:494-520. (link)
Hummel, D., S. Adamo, A. de Sherbinin, L. Murphy, R. M. Aggarwal, L. Zulu, J. Liu and K. Knight. 2012. Inter- and transdisciplinary approaches to population-environment research for sustainability aims: A review and appraisal. Population and Environment. (link)
Lathey, V., S. Guhathakurta and R. Aggarwal. 2009. The impact of subregional variations in urban sprawl on the prevalence of obesity and related morbidity. Journal of Planning Education and Research 29:127-141. (link)
Metson, G., D. L. Childers and R. Aggarwal. 2012. Efficiency through proximity: Changes in phosphorus cycling at the urban-agricultural interface of a rapidly urbanizing desert region. Journal of Industrial Ecology 16:914-927. (link)
Muneepeerakul, R., M. R. Qubbaj, R. M. Aggarwal, J. M. Anderies and M. A. Janssen. 2012. Critical transition between cohesive and population-dividing responses to change. Journal of the Royal Society Interface 9:3303-3311. (link)
Taylor, C. and R. Aggarwal. 2010. Motivations and barriers to stakeholder participation in local food value changes in Phoenix, Arizona. Urban Horticulture Magazine Sept:46-48. (link)
Books and Book Chapters
Aggarwal, R. M. and C. Taylor. 2012. Sustainable agricultural systems for cities. Pp. 185-206 In: K. Pijawka D. and M. A. Gromulat. eds., Understanding Sustainable Cities: Concepts, Cases, and Solutions. Kendall Hunt Publishing Company.
Heinrichs, D., R. M. Aggarwal, J. Barton, E. Bharucha, C. Butsch, M. Fragkias, P. Johnston, F. Kraas, K. Krellenberg, A. Lampis, O. G. Ling and J. Vogel. 2011. Adapting cities to climate change: Opportunities and constraints. Pp. 193-224 In: D. Hoonweg, M. Freira, M. Lee, P. Bhada and B. Yuen. eds., Cities and Climate Change: Responding to an Urgent Agenda. World Bank.
Posters/Presentations
Abrahams, R., R. Aggarwal and C. Taylor. 2010. Exploratory study on the spatial extent of locally oriented food production in Maricopa and Pinal Counties. Poster presented at the January 14, 2010 12th Annual Central Arizona Project Long-Term Ecological Project (CAP LTER) Poster Symposium, Global Institute of Sustainability.
Aggarwal, R. M. and J. M. Anderies. 2012. How we become victims of our own success: Case study analysis of exemplar social-ecological systems under globalization and climate change. Presented as part of a panel discussion When Strengths Can Become Weaknesses: Emerging Vulnerabilities in Exemplar Social-Ecological Systems under Globalization and Climate Change on May 29, 2012 at Adaptation Futures: Second International Climate Change.
Aggarwal, R., S. Guhathakurta, S. Grossman-Clarke and V. Lathey. 2009. How do variation in heat islands in space and time influence household water use? A longitudinal study of single family residences in Phoenix. Poster presented at 11th Annual Central Arizona-Phoenix Long-Term Ecological Research (CAP LTER) Poster Symposium, January 15, 2009, Global Institute of Sustainability. (link)
Bausch, J. C., R. Aggarwal and Colleagues from couse SOS 594. 2010. Future scenarios of agriculture and water in central Arizona. Presentation at 17 February 2010 Decision Center for a Desert City: Water Climiate Briefing, Arizona State University.
Bausch, J. C., J. P. Connors, C. Rubinos, H. Eakin, R. Aggarwal and A. York. 2012. Agriculture around a desert city: Perspectives on decisions for water, land, and livelihoods. Poster presented at 13 January 2012 CAP LTER 14th Annual Poster Symposium and All Scientist Meeting, Global Institute of Sustainability, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ. (link)
Bausch, J. C., C. Rubiños, H. Eakin, A. York and R. Aggarwal. 2013. Farmers' resilience to socio-ecological change in Central Arizona. Poster presented February 17, 2013 at the Decision Making Under Uncertainty (DMUU) Session of the AAAS Annual Meeting, February 14-18, 2013, Boston, MA.
Chuang, W. and R. Aggarwal. 2008. Governance of environmental impacts of high-tech industry in developing countries: Top-down versus. Presentation at the 5-6 April 2008 Science & Technology: An International, Interdisciplinary Graduate Student Conference, Washington, DC.
Eakin, H., R. Aggarwal, A. York, J. C. Bausch and C. Rubinos. 2012. Irrigated agriculture, water institutions and adaptation in urbanizing Arizona. Presented May 31, 2012 at Adaptation Futures, 2012 International Conference on Climate Adaptation, May 28-31, 2012, Tucson, AZ.
Fragkias, M., D. Heinrichs, R. Aggarwal, P. Johnston, J. Barton, A. Lampis and R. Krishnamurthy. 2012. Urban responses to climate change: evidence from practice in cities of the Global South. Presented March 28, 2012 at Planet Under Pressure: New Knowledge Towards Solutions, March 26-29, 2012, London, UK.
Rubinos, C., A. M. York, H. Eakin, R. Aggarwal, J. C. Bausch, S. Smith-Heisters, S. Waters and M. Anderies. 2013. Water and agriculture in Central Arizona: Adapting to a new scenario. Poster presented at the Water Resources Research Center 2013 Annual Conference, March 5, 2013, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ.
Selover, N. J., R. Aggarwal, S. Waters and H. Eakin. 2012. Case critical: Are droughts withering our resources?. Panel discussion moderated by Climate Change Science Manager, Nalini Chhetri, Thursday, September 6, 2012, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ.
Taylor, C., R. Aggarwal, H. Eakin and K. Spielmann. 2010. Local food in the Phoenix metropolitan area: Barriers and enablers as perceived by food system stakeholders. Poster presented at the January 14, 2010 12th Annual Central Arizona-Phoenix Long-Term Ecological Research Poster Symposium, Global Institute of Sustainability.
Current Projects/Teams
RCN-SEES: Coordinating Phosphorus Research to Create a Sustainable Food System
