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The ABCs of Global Warming

Author

Listed:
  • Robert Shelburne

    (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe)

Abstract

This essay provides a broad methodological framework for thinking about what is needed policy-wise for addressing climate change due to increased carbon emissions. Climate change will require mankind to decide whether it is best to adapt to higher temperatures or attempt to mitigate the increase by drastically reducing emissions of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. The optimal choice is to minimize the sum of the adaptation and mitigation costs; it is argued that much more needs to be done to reduce carbon emissions and thus the focus should be on mitigation activities. This, however, will require a considerable amount of technological advancement and the creation of a global institutional mechanism to manage the process; an attempt is made to explain what is going to be required regarding both of these.

Suggested Citation

  • Robert Shelburne, 2009. "The ABCs of Global Warming," UNECE Annual Report Economic Essays 2009_2, UNECE.
  • Handle: RePEc:ece:annrep:2009_2
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/oes/nutshell/2009/2_GlobalWarming.pdf
    File Function: First version, 2009
    Download Restriction: no
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Climate change; global warming;

    JEL classification:

    • Q50 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - General
    • Q52 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Pollution Control Adoption and Costs; Distributional Effects; Employment Effects
    • Q54 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Climate; Natural Disasters and their Management; Global Warming
    • Q58 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environmental Economics: Government Policy

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