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Abstract:
In this paper, we use a computable general equilibrium model (WIATEC) to study the potential impact of implementing Europe's 20-20-20 climate policy. The results show that the economic costs of implementing the policy are only moderate and within the range of recent empirical evidence. Furthermore, they also indicate that there is a possibility that the existing allocations to the Europena sectors participating in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) are on the low side, and therefore, there are still rooms for movement in the future.

Climate policy, Energy policy, EU 20-20-20 plan, EU Emission Trading System, Computable General Equilibrium

Abstract:
This study models maximum temperatures in Switzerland monitored in twelve locations using the Generalised Extreme Value (GEV) distribution. The parameters of the GEV distribution are determined within a Bayesian framework. We find that the parameters of the underlying distribution underwent a substantial change in the beginning of the 1980s. This change is characterised by an increase both in the level and the variability. We assess the likelihood of a heat wave of the Summer of 2003 using the fitted GEV distribution by accounting for the presence of a structural break. The estimation results do suggest that the heat wave of 2003 appears not that statistically improbable event as it is generally accepted in the relevant literature.

climate change, GEV, Bayesian modelling, Great Alpine Heat Wave

Abstract:
Integrated assessment models lack a microeconomic foundation in modelling environmental damages to the economy. To overcome this, damage coefficients are incorporated in standard microeconomic models. Firms and consumers take both damages and prices as given. Demand, supply, profit and expenditure functions under damage coefficients are derived that allow easy implementation in applied economic models through appropriate price distortions related to such coefficients. For the consumer, Slutsky's equations are derived. The different speeds of equilibrium adjustment in economic and climate models is reconciled in the Recursive Equilibrium with Environmental Damages (REED). An exchange economy and Robinson Crusoe economy illustrate our approach.

environmental damage, substitution effects, income effects, Slutky's equations, equilibrium

Abstract:
This paper applies the concept of damage coefficients introduced in Houba and Kremers (2008) to provide an estimate of the cost of climate change - in particular the cost of changes in mean regional temperature and precipitation - to the fruit vegetation sector. We concentrate on the production of apples in the German 'Alte Land' region. The estimated cost of climate change on apple-growing in the 'Alte Land' is dependent on the assumptions regarding developments in the rentability of land not related to climate change in the fruit sector.

fruit vegetation, Alte Land, climate change, land productivity, land rentability, cost of climate change