{"id":570,"date":"2024-04-17T09:27:40","date_gmt":"2024-04-17T09:27:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rivet-project.se\/?p=570"},"modified":"2024-04-17T09:27:40","modified_gmt":"2024-04-17T09:27:40","slug":"reflections-of-the-panel-discussion-modeling-our-future-a-conversation-on-climate-economics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rivet-project.se\/?p=570","title":{"rendered":"Reflections of the panel discussion Modeling our future – a conversation on climate economics"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The future demands bold solutions. Can climate economics guide us? And is the future we model the future we want? This was the departure point during our panel discussion on April 10, 2024, at Lund City Hall<\/a>. Around 65 gathered to listen to our four panelists discussing the climate economic model\u2019s effectiveness, limitations, and how they can be used responsibly. The discussion allied to earlier debate about the risks and usefulness of models, but also left room for further reflection and continued curiosity about the questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Background <\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Climate economics is devoted to thinking about the costs of climate change and how to best limit its impact. The model’s climate economists develop, and use, are in great demand as mitigation and adaptation becomes increasingly crucial policy goals. They are also deeply integrated into climate science by providing climate scientists with scenarios that spell out what level of greenhouse gas emissions we can expect under different assumptions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The modelers themselves will often think of their models as tools for exploring interactions between systems, policy choices, and priorities\u2014a humble and in many ways severely limited instrument that can aid us in thinking about what is important, what we can live without, and what needs to be preserved. Those critical of the model\u2019s argue that the models in practice function as veils that hide the view of crucial ethical considerations and invert the relationship between facts and value judgments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this panel discussion, the audience met academics with different backgrounds, discussing economists\u2019 perspectives on the future and how it can be helpful or not in the context of climate change. Also, if there are ways of improving the models or using them more responsibly, on whom that responsibility lies, and what the alternatives are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Key takeaways <\/h5>\n\n\n\n

The conversation brought in various perspectives on the challenges and opportunities of using integrated assessment models. Several key insights emerged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n