Tackling climate change with a mix of adaptation, mitigation and sustainable cooperation policies
Three new research papers on adaptation and mitigation policy are available on CMCC website. Prof. Carlo Carraro, head of CIP division, and the CMCC’s researchers Valentina Bosetti, Francesco Bosello and Enrica De Cian are authors of these studies in collaboration with others international colleagues. The researches were especially focused on the evaluation of the role of adaptation/mitigation strategies to tackle climate related damages, and on the assessment of emission targets to stabilize global warming. Results highlight that early investments in mitigation followed by large adaptation expenditures a few decades later are the best way to minimise climate related damages. Mitigation and adaption are probably complementary, and the possibility to adapt does not justify postponing mitigation policies.
Find here the full results obtained using an Integrated Assessment Model (AD-WITCH) that describes the relationships between different adaptation modes, mitigation, and capacity building to analyse the optimal portfolio of adaptation measures.
Here and here are available the full data about emission targets and policies to stabilize global climate. The WITCH model, which was developed to project economic and environmental effects of any given set of emission targets, was recently updated and refined. In particular, researchers included new possibilities, such as emissions reduction from bioenergy, carbon capture and storage, and avoided deforestation and forest degradation, which are an important component of pledges in several developing countries.
According to researchers, the emission reduction commitments proposed at the end of COP15 in Copenhagen will probably fail to stop global warming below or around the 2° C target. These studies show that additional ambitious policy measures would be urgently needed.
Further links:
- Sustainable Cooperation in Global Climate Policy: Specific Formulas and Emission Targets to Build on Copenhagen and Cancun – V. Bosetti, J.Frankel – September 2011
- Adaptation can help Mitigation: An Integrated Approach to Post – 2012 Climate Policy – F. Bosello, C. Carraro et al. – November 2011
- Emissions Pricing to Stabilize Global Climate – V. Bosetti, S. Paltsevb et al. – November 2011
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