The 'Doomsday' Effect in Climate Policies: Why is the Present Decade so Crucial to Tackling the Climate Challenge?

15 Pages Posted: 13 Oct 2012

See all articles by Baptiste Perrissin Fabert

Baptiste Perrissin Fabert

Centre International de Recherche sur l’Environnement et le Développement (CIRED)

Espagne Etienne

CIRED, International Research Center on Environment & Development, France

Antonin Pottier

Centre International de Recherche sur l'Environnement et le Développement

Patrice Dumas

Centre De Coopération Internationale En Recherche Agronomique Pour Le Développement (CIRAD)

Date Written: July 11, 2012

Abstract

Despite growing scientific evidence that passing a 2°C temperature increase may trigger tipping points in climate dynamics, most Integrated Assessment Models (IAM) based on Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA) with smooth quadratic damage functions are unable to account for the possibility of strong increase in climate damage. Our IAM RESPONSE makes it possible to bridge this gap by integrating a threshold effect damage function which sets a threshold of temperature increase from which climate damages increase significantly. To fit with on-going climate negotiations, this threshold is set at 2°C. Regardless of the bleak prospect of passing the threshold, it turns out that among a broad set of scenarios accounting for the diversity of worldviews in the climate debate, overshooting the 2°C target and then facing the resulting damage may become an optimal strategy for many economic agents who are struck by what we call a “doomsday effect”. We show that this effect happens for any level of jump in damage and dramatically increases if the beginning of mitigation efforts is postponed till the decade 2010-2020 on. In light of these results, we believe that any further delay in reaching a clear international agreement will close the window of opportunity for meeting the 2°C target with a reasonable chance of diplomatic success.

Keywords: Integrated Assessment Model, Non Linear Effect, Doomsday Effect, 2°C Target

JEL Classification: C61, Q54, Q58

Suggested Citation

Perrissin Fabert, Baptiste and Etienne, Espagne and Pottier, Antonin and Dumas, Patrice, The 'Doomsday' Effect in Climate Policies: Why is the Present Decade so Crucial to Tackling the Climate Challenge? (July 11, 2012). FEEM Working Paper No. 62.2012, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2160828 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2160828

Baptiste Perrissin Fabert (Contact Author)

Centre International de Recherche sur l’Environnement et le Développement (CIRED) ( email )

France

Espagne Etienne

CIRED, International Research Center on Environment & Development, France ( email )

Campus du Jardin Tropical
45 bis avenue de la Belle Gabrielle
F94736 Nogent sur Marne Cedex
France

Antonin Pottier

Centre International de Recherche sur l'Environnement et le Développement ( email )

45bis, avenue de la Belle Gabrielle
Nogent sur Marne CEDEX, 94736
France

Patrice Dumas

Centre De Coopération Internationale En Recherche Agronomique Pour Le Développement (CIRAD)

42, rue Scheffer
Paris, 75116
France

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