Is Climate Change Time Reversible?

24 Pages Posted: 18 May 2022 Last revised: 1 Dec 2022

See all articles by Francesco Giancaterini

Francesco Giancaterini

Maastricht University

Alain Hecq

Maastricht University - Department of Quantitative Economics

Claudio Morana

Università di Milano Bicocca; Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca - Department of Economics, Management and Statistics (DEMS); Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca - Center for European Studies (CefES); Center for Economic Research on Pensions and Welfare Policies (CeRP); Rimini Center for Economic Analysis - Europe ETS; Rimini Center for Economic Analysis - HQ

Date Written: May 17, 2022

Abstract

This paper proposes strategies to detect time reversibility in stationary stochastic processes by using the properties of mixed causal and noncausal models. It shows that they can also be used for non-stationary processes when the trend component is computed with the Hodrick-Prescott filter rendering a timereversible closed-form solution. This paper also links the concept of an environmental tipping point to the statistical property of time irreversibility and assesses fourteen climate indicators. We find evidence of time irreversibility in GHG emissions, global temperature, global sea levels, sea ice area, and some natural oscillation indices. While not conclusive, our findings urge the implementation of correction policies to avoid the worst consequences of climate change and not miss the opportunity window, which might still be available, despite closing quickly.

Keywords: mixed causal and noncausal models, time reversibility, Hodrick-Prescott filter, climate change, global warming, environmental tipping points

JEL Classification: C22

Suggested Citation

Giancaterini, Francesco and Hecq, Alain and Morana, Claudio, Is Climate Change Time Reversible? (May 17, 2022). University of Milan Bicocca Department of Economics, Management and Statistics Working Paper No. 498, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4112308

Francesco Giancaterini

Maastricht University ( email )

Maastricht, Limburg
Netherlands

Alain Hecq

Maastricht University - Department of Quantitative Economics ( email )

P.O. Box 616
Maastricht, 6200 MD
Netherlands

HOME PAGE: http://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/a.hecq

Claudio Morana (Contact Author)

Università di Milano Bicocca ( email )

Dip Economia Metodi Quantitativi Strategie Impresa
Piazza dell'Ateneno Nuovo 1
Milano, 20126
Italy
+39 0264483091 (Phone)

Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca - Department of Economics, Management and Statistics (DEMS) ( email )

Piazza dell'Ateneo Nuovo, 1
Milan, 20126
Italy

Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca - Center for European Studies (CefES) ( email )

U6 Building
Viale Piero e Alberto Pirelli, 22
Milano, 20126
Italy

Center for Economic Research on Pensions and Welfare Policies (CeRP) ( email )

Moncalieri, Turin
Italy

Rimini Center for Economic Analysis - Europe ETS ( email )

Piazza Ateneo Nuovo 1
Milan, 20126
Italy

Rimini Center for Economic Analysis - HQ ( email )

900 University Avenue
Riverside, CA 92521
United States

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