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Climate engineering and climate tipping-point scenarios

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  • J. Eric Bickel

    (The University of Texas at Austin)

Abstract

Many scientists fear that anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases have set the Earth on a path of significant, possibly catastrophic, changes. This includes the possibility of exceeding particular thresholds or tipping points in the climate system. In response, governments have proposed emissions reduction targets, but no agreement has been reached. These facts have led some scientists and economists to suggest research into climate engineering. In this paper, we analyze the potential value of one climate engineering technology family, known as solar radiation management (SRM) to manage the risk of differing tipping-point scenarios. We find that adding SRM to a policy of emissions controls may be able to help manage the risk of climate tipping points and that its potential benefits are large. However, the technology does not exist and important indirect costs (e.g., change in precipitation) are not well understood. Thus, we conclude the SRM merits a serious research effort to better understand its efficiency and safety.

Suggested Citation

  • J. Eric Bickel, 2013. "Climate engineering and climate tipping-point scenarios," Environment Systems and Decisions, Springer, vol. 33(1), pages 152-167, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:envsyd:v:33:y:2013:i:1:d:10.1007_s10669-013-9435-8
    DOI: 10.1007/s10669-013-9435-8
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Keller, Klaus & Bolker, Benjamin M. & Bradford, D.F.David F., 2004. "Uncertain climate thresholds and optimal economic growth," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 48(1), pages 723-741, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Milad Eghtedari Naeini & Benjamin D. Leibowicz & J. Eric Bickel, 2020. "Can you trust a model whose output keeps changing? Interpreting changes in the social cost of carbon produced by the DICE model," Environment Systems and Decisions, Springer, vol. 40(3), pages 301-320, September.
    2. Khara D. Grieger & Tyler Felgenhauer & Ortwin Renn & Jonathan Wiener & Mark Borsuk, 2019. "Emerging risk governance for stratospheric aerosol injection as a climate management technology," Environment Systems and Decisions, Springer, vol. 39(4), pages 371-382, December.
    3. Garth Heutel & Juan Moreno-Cruz & Katharine Ricke, 2016. "Climate Engineering Economics," Annual Review of Resource Economics, Annual Reviews, vol. 8(1), pages 99-118, October.
    4. Tommi Ekholm & Hannele Korhonen, 2016. "Climate change mitigation strategy under an uncertain Solar Radiation Management possibility," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 139(3), pages 503-515, December.

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