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The Earth has humans, so why don’t our climate models?

Author

Listed:
  • Brian Beckage

    (University of Vermont
    University of Vermont)

  • Katherine Lacasse

    (Rhode Island College)

  • Jonathan M. Winter

    (Dartmouth College)

  • Louis J. Gross

    (University of Tennessee
    University of Tennessee
    University of Tennessee)

  • Nina Fefferman

    (University of Tennessee
    University of Tennessee)

  • Forrest M. Hoffman

    (Oak Ridge National Laboratory
    Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville)

  • Sara S. Metcalf

    (The State University of New York at Buffalo)

  • Travis Franck

    (Climate Interactive)

  • Eric Carr

    (University of Tennessee)

  • Asim Zia

    (University of Vermont
    University of Vermont)

  • Ann Kinzig

    (Arizona State University)

Abstract

While climate models have rapidly advanced in sophistication over recent decades, they lack dynamic representation of human behavior and social systems despite strong feedbacks between social processes and climate. The impacts of climate change alter perceptions of risk and emissions behavior that, in turn, influence the rate and magnitude of climate change. Addressing this deficiency in climate models requires a substantial interdisciplinary effort to couple models of climate and human behavior. We suggest a multi-model approach that considers a range of theories and implementations of human behavior and social systems, similar to the multi-model approach that has been used to explore the physical climate system. We describe the importance of linking social factors with climate processes and identify four priorities essential to advancing the development of coupled social-climate models.

Suggested Citation

  • Brian Beckage & Katherine Lacasse & Jonathan M. Winter & Louis J. Gross & Nina Fefferman & Forrest M. Hoffman & Sara S. Metcalf & Travis Franck & Eric Carr & Asim Zia & Ann Kinzig, 2020. "The Earth has humans, so why don’t our climate models?," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 163(1), pages 181-188, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:climat:v:163:y:2020:i:1:d:10.1007_s10584-020-02897-x
    DOI: 10.1007/s10584-020-02897-x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Sibel Eker & Charlie Wilson & Niklas Hohne & Mark S. McCaffrey & Irene Monasterolo & Leila Niamir & Caroline Zimm, 2023. "A dynamic systems approach to harness the potential of social tipping," Papers 2309.14964, arXiv.org.
    2. Lackner, Teresa & Fierro, Luca Eduardo & Mellacher, Patrick, 2024. "Opinion Dynamics meet Agent-based Climate Economics: An Integrated Analysis of Carbon Taxation," OSF Preprints rdfze, Center for Open Science.

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