The consequences of uncertainty: Climate sensitivity and economic sensitivity to the climate

Arbeitspapier

We construct an integrated assessment model with multiple energy sources - two fossil fuels and "green energy" - and use it to evaluate ranges of plausible estimates for the climate sensitivity as well as for the sensitivity of the economy to climate change. Rather than focusing on uncertainty explicitly, we look at extreme scenarios defined by the upper and lower limits given in available studies in the literature. We compare optimal policy with laissez faire and we point to the possible policy errors that could arise. By far the largest policy error arises when the climate policy is "overly passive"; "overly zealous" climate policy (i.e., a high carbon tax applied when climate change and its negative on the economy are very limited) does not hurt the economy much as there is considerable substitutability between fossil and non-fossil energy sources.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: Sveriges Riksbank Working Paper Series ; No. 369

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft
• Subject: Climate change ; integrated assessment model ; uncertainty

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Hassler, John ; Krusell, Per ; Olovsson, Conny
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Sveriges Riksbank
• (where): Stockholm
• (when): 2019

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/215447
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:44 AM CET