Inside the integrated assessment models: Four issues in climate economics

Authors: Stanton, Elizabeth A.; Ackerman, Frank; Kartha, Sivan

Source: Climate and Development, Volume 1, Number 2, 2009 , pp. 166-184(19)

Publisher: Earthscan

Buy & download fulltext article:

Price: $53.69 plus tax (Refund Policy)

Abstract:

Good climate policy requires the best possible understanding of how climatic change will impact on human lives and livelihoods in both industrialized and developing counties. Our review of recent contributions to the climate-economics literature assesses 30 existing integrated assessment models in four key areas: the connection between model structure and the type of results produced; uncertainty in climate outcomes and projection of future damages; equity across time and space; and abatement costs and the endogeneity of technological change. Differences in treatment of these issues are substantial and directly affect model results and their implied policy prescriptions. Much can be learned about climate economics and modelling technique from the best practices in these areas; there is unfortunately no existing model that incorporates the best practices on all or most of the questions we examine.

Keywords: climate economics; integrated assessment models

Document Type: Review article

Publication date: 2009-07-01

More about this publication?

Published in partnership with the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) and the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI)
Editor in Chief: Richard Klein, Stockholm Environment Institute, Sweden
Climate and Development is for all those who seek a better understanding of the links between climate and development: policymakers, academics, negotiators and industrial and non-governmental organisations.
Earthscan Journals Library Recommendation Form
Editorial Board
Information for Authors
Submit a Paper
Information for Advertisers
Abstracts and Indexing
Aims and Scope
History
ingentaconnect is not responsible for the content or availability of external websites