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Policy Implications of Greenhouse Warming Mitigation, Adaptation, and the Science Base (1992) / Chapter Skim
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4 Policy Framework
Pages 29-35

The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.


From page 29...
... There are no specific conclusions, however, about the regional and local effects associated with increased atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases. Nor is there much indication about how rapidly the effects might emerge.
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From page 30...
... If climate change occurs, and no mitigation or adaptation actions are undertaken, a substantial reduction in real income is likely over time. Initially, mitigation is likely to reduce real income more than either doing nothing or taking adaptation measures as climatic changes emerge.
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From page 31...
... The uppermost curve plots world economic well-being, essentially the amount of real income available for consumption, assuming that there is no climate change. The lowest curve plots world economic well-being assuming that there is climate change and no actions are taken either to prevent or to cope with those changes.
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From page 32...
... A low payoff actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions discount rate on resources invested in response to potential climate change is inconsistent with a high return on capital investment. The panel makes no attempt to resolve this issue.
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From page 33...
... Assessing Mitigation Options Most mitigation options considered here use currently available techniques and equipment that could be installed within 10 years. Actions that reduce or offset emissions of greenhouse gases or otherwise deal with greenhouse warming are evaluated in terms of annualized costs and annualized reduction of CO2 emissions.
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From page 34...
... Assessing Adaptation Options Options intended to help people and unmanaged systems of plants and animals adapt to future climate change are more difficult to assess than mitigation programs. First, we must speculate about future climatic conditions.
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From page 35...
... Others might be unwilling to accept some aspects of proposed adjustments perhaps abandoning their traditional homeland and moving elsewhere. In any case, people and organizations will differ in their judgments about how much society should pay to reduce the chance of uncertain climate change.
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Key Terms

  • discount rate
  • potential greenhouse
  • real income
  • mitigation options
  • gas emissions

  • low discount
  • discount rates
  • greenhouse gas
  • improve economic
  • taking adaptation

  • adaptation actions
  • annualized costs
  • curve plots
  • reduce greenhouse
  • climatic changes

  • comparing mitigation
  • offset emissions
  • world economic
  • adaptation options
  • plots world

  • adaptation measures
  • social cost
  • future outcomes
  • inappropriate incentives
  • greenhouse investment

  • quantitative method
  • burning coal
  • local effects
  • policy choices
  • capital investment


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