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Reflections on cross-impact balances, a systematic method constructing global socio-technical scenarios for climate change research

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  • Vanessa J. Schweizer

    (University of Waterloo)

Abstract

Experiences with an algorithmic technique—cross-impact balances (CIB)—for exploring scenarios rather than relying solely upon expert intuitions are discussed. With CIB, two types of uncertainty for climate change research have been explored: (1) socio-technical uncertainties not represented explicitly in integrated assessment models (sometimes called “context scenarios”) and (2) sampling the space of possible futures to model. By applying CIB retrospectively and prospectively to two global socio-economic scenario exercises for climate change research (the Special Report on Emissions Scenarios and the Shared Socioeconomic Pathways), CIB proved instructive in two ways. First, CIB revealed system behaviors that were not obvious when social variables, such as quality of governance, were not captured explicitly by integrated assessment models. Second, CIB can algorithmically rank different plausible futures according to their self-consistency. These two capabilities have raised awareness about the limitations of accepting what may be “obvious” to model, as practices that focus solely on quantitative variables or rely upon intuitions for scenario analysis may result in detailed analyses of only a subset of important policy-relevant futures. From these experiences, systematic methods like CIB are recommended in conjunction with more detailed modeling to develop integrated socio-technical scenarios in energy-economy research.

Suggested Citation

  • Vanessa J. Schweizer, 2020. "Reflections on cross-impact balances, a systematic method constructing global socio-technical scenarios for climate change research," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 162(4), pages 1705-1722, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:climat:v:162:y:2020:i:4:d:10.1007_s10584-019-02615-2
    DOI: 10.1007/s10584-019-02615-2
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    Cited by:

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    2. Witold-Roger Poganietz & Wolfgang Weimer-Jehle, 2020. "Introduction to the special issue ‘Integrated scenario building in energy transition research’," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 162(4), pages 1699-1704, October.
    3. Parra, Juan Felipe & Olaya, Yris & Arango-Aramburo, Santiago, 2024. "Perspective on the human dimension in energy modelling: Structural analysis," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 199(C).
    4. Apergi, Maria & Eicke, Laima & Goldthau, Andreas & Kurniawan, Jude & Schuch, Esther & Weko, Silvia, 2024. "Pathways to a sustainable electricity sector in Kenya: Challenges and transformational factors," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    5. Hannah Kosow & Sandra Wassermann & Stephan Bartke & Paul Goede & Detlef Grimski & Ines Imbert & Till Jenssen & Oliver Laukel & Matthias Proske & Jochen Protzer & Kim Philip Schumacher & Stefan Siedent, 2022. "Addressing Goal Conflicts: New Policy Mixes for Commercial Land Use Management," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-26, May.
    6. Anna Garcia-Teruel & Yvonne Scholz & Wolfgang Weimer-Jehle & Sigrid Prehofer & Karl-Kiên Cao & Frieder Borggrefe, 2022. "Teaching Power-Sector Models Social and Political Awareness," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-24, April.
    7. Laura-Patricia Oviedo-Toral & Davi Ezequiel François & Witold-Roger Poganietz, 2021. "Challenges for Energy Transition in Poverty-Ridden Regions—The Case of Rural Mixteca, Mexico," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-22, May.

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