Managing climate risk
Authors: Obersteiner M, Azar C, Kauppi P, Moellersten K, Moreira JR, Nilsson S, Read P, Riahi K, Schlamadinger B, Yamagata Y, Yan J,van Ypersele JP
Abstract
Stabilization of atmospheric greenhouse gas (GHG) concentrations at a safe level is a paradigm that the scientific and policy communities have widely adopted for addressing the problem of climate change. However, aiming to stabilize concentrations at a single target level might not be a robust strategy, given that the environment is extremely uncertain. The static stabilization paradigm is based primarily on two assumptions: (i), that a safe level of GHG concentrations exists and can be sustained, and (ii) that such a level can be determined ex ante.
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) calls for stabilization of GHGs at a safe level, and it also prescribes precautionary measures to anticipate, prevent, or minimize the causes of climate change and mitigate their adverse effects....