Responding to Threats of Climate Change Mega-Catastrophes

Kousky, Carolyn; Rostapshova, Olga; Toman, Michael; Zeckhauser, Richard

dc.creator	Kousky, Carolyn
dc.creator	Rostapshova, Olga
dc.creator	Toman, Michael
dc.creator	Zeckhauser, Richard
dc.date	2012-03-19T19:13:52Z
dc.date	2012-03-19T19:13:52Z
dc.date	2009-11-01
dc.date.accessioned	2023-02-18T19:38:43Z
dc.date.available	2023-02-18T19:38:43Z
dc.identifier	http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/main?menuPK=64187510&pagePK=64193027&piPK=64187937&theSitePK=523679&menuPK=64187510&searchMenuPK=64187283&siteName=WDS&entityID=000158349_20091112100234
dc.identifier	http://hdl.handle.net/10986/4318
dc.identifier.uri	http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/CUHPOERS/249818
dc.description	There is a low but uncertain probability that climate change could trigger "mega-catastrophes," severe and at least partly irreversible adverse effects across broad regions. This paper first discusses the state of current knowledge and the defining characteristics of potential climate change mega-catastrophes. While some of these characteristics present difficulties for using standard rational choice methods to evaluate response options, there is still a need to balance the benefits and costs of different possible responses with appropriate attention to the uncertainties. To that end, the authors present a qualitative analysis of three options for mitigating the risk of climate mega-catastrophes - drastic abatement of greenhouse gas emissions, development and implementation of geoengineering, and large-scale ex ante adaptation - against the criteria of efficacy, cost, robustness, and flexibility. They discuss the composition of a sound portfolio of initial investments in reducing the risk of climate change mega-catastrophes.
dc.language	English
dc.relation	Policy Research working paper ; no. WPS 5127
dc.rights	CC BY 3.0 IGO
dc.rights	http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/igo/
dc.rights	World Bank
dc.subject	ABATEMENT
dc.subject	ABATEMENT COSTS
dc.subject	ABRUPT CLIMATE
dc.subject	ABRUPT CLIMATE CHANGE
dc.subject	ABSORPTION
dc.subject	ACID
dc.subject	ACID RAIN
dc.subject	ACIDIFICATION
dc.subject	ADVERSE IMPACTS FROM CLIMATE
dc.subject	AIR
dc.subject	ALBEDO
dc.subject	ALLOWANCE
dc.subject	ATMOSPHERE
dc.subject	ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY
dc.subject	BIOMASS
dc.subject	CARBON
dc.subject	CARBON DIOXIDE
dc.subject	CARBON ENERGY
dc.subject	CARBON ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES
dc.subject	CARBON SEQUESTRATION
dc.subject	CARBON TECHNOLOGIES
dc.subject	CATASTROPHIC CLIMATE CHANGE
dc.subject	CATASTROPHIC EVENTS
dc.subject	CATASTROPHIC IMPACTS
dc.subject	CLIMATE
dc.subject	CLIMATE CHANGE
dc.subject	CLIMATE CHANGE CATASTROPHES
dc.subject	CLIMATE CHANGE DAMAGE
dc.subject	CLIMATE CHANGE DISASTERS
dc.subject	CLIMATE CHANGE POLICIES
dc.subject	CLIMATE CHANGE RESEARCH
dc.subject	CLIMATE CHANGES
dc.subject	CLIMATE DYNAMICS
dc.subject	CLIMATE EXTREMES
dc.subject	CLIMATE IMPACTS
dc.subject	CLIMATE POLICY
dc.subject	CLIMATE RESEARCH
dc.subject	CLIMATE SENSITIVITY
dc.subject	CLIMATE SYSTEM
dc.subject	CLIMATE VARIABILITY
dc.subject	CLIMATE-CHANGE
dc.subject	CLIMATE-CHANGE CATASTROPHE
dc.subject	CLIMATE-CHANGE RISK ANALYSIS
dc.subject	CLIMATIC CHANGE
dc.subject	CLIMATIC IMPACTS
dc.subject	CLOUD COVER
dc.subject	CO
dc.subject	CO2
dc.subject	CONCENTRATIONS
dc.subject	CONTINGENCY PLANNING
dc.subject	CONTINGENCY PLANS
dc.subject	COSTS OF ABATEMENT
dc.subject	COSTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE
dc.subject	COSTBENEFIT ANALYSIS
dc.subject	DAMAGES
dc.subject	DEEP UNCERTAINTY
dc.subject	DESERTIFICATION
dc.subject	DISASTER
dc.subject	DISASTER MANAGEMENT
dc.subject	DISASTER PREPAREDNESS
dc.subject	DISASTER REDUCTION
dc.subject	DISASTER RISK
dc.subject	DISASTER RISK REDUCTION
dc.subject	DISASTER RISKS
dc.subject	DISCOUNT RATE
dc.subject	DROUGHT
dc.subject	DROUGHTS
dc.subject	EARLY WARNING
dc.subject	ECOLOGICAL ECONOMICS
dc.subject	ECONOMIC COSTS
dc.subject	ECONOMIC GROWTH
dc.subject	ECONOMIC MODEL
dc.subject	ECONOMICS OF CLIMATE CHANGE
dc.subject	ECOSYSTEM
dc.subject	EFFECT OF CLIMATE CHANGE
dc.subject	EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
dc.subject	EMERGENCY RESPONDERS
dc.subject	EMISSIONS CORRIDORS
dc.subject	EMISSIONS LEVELS
dc.subject	ENERGY SYSTEM
dc.subject	ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS
dc.subject	ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
dc.subject	EVACUATION
dc.subject	EXTINCTION RISK FROM CLIMATE CHANGE
dc.subject	EXTREME EVENT
dc.subject	EXTREME EVENTS
dc.subject	FAT TAIL
dc.subject	FAT TAILS
dc.subject	FERTILIZATION
dc.subject	FINANCIAL CRISIS
dc.subject	FINANCIAL SUPPORT
dc.subject	FLOOD
dc.subject	FLOOD PROTECTION
dc.subject	FLOODED
dc.subject	FLOODING
dc.subject	FLOODS
dc.subject	FOOD AID
dc.subject	FOOD SHORTAGES
dc.subject	FOREST
dc.subject	FOREST PRODUCTS
dc.subject	GHG
dc.subject	GHGS
dc.subject	GLOBAL CLIMATE
dc.subject	GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE
dc.subject	GLOBAL EMISSIONS
dc.subject	GLOBAL GREENHOUSE GAS
dc.subject	GLOBAL MEAN TEMPERATURES
dc.subject	GLOBAL TEMPERATURE
dc.subject	GLOBAL WARMING
dc.subject	GREENHOUSE
dc.subject	GREENHOUSE GAS
dc.subject	GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS
dc.subject	GREENHOUSE GASES
dc.subject	GREENHOUSE WARMING
dc.subject	HABITATS
dc.subject	HEAT WAVE
dc.subject	HEAT WAVES
dc.subject	HURRICANE
dc.subject	HURRICANES
dc.subject	HYDROLOGIC CYCLE
dc.subject	ICE AGE
dc.subject	ICE SHEET
dc.subject	ICE SHEETS
dc.subject	IMPACT OF CLIMATE
dc.subject	IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE
dc.subject	IMPACTS FROM CLIMATE CHANGE
dc.subject	IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE
dc.subject	INSURANCE
dc.subject	INSURANCE INDUSTRY
dc.subject	INSURANCE MARKETS
dc.subject	INTERGOVERNMENTAL PANEL ON CLIMATE CHANGE
dc.subject	INVESTMENT DECISIONS
dc.subject	IPCC
dc.subject	LOW-CARBON
dc.subject	MEAN TEMPERATURE
dc.subject	MEAN TEMPERATURE INCREASE
dc.subject	MEDICINE
dc.subject	METHANE
dc.subject	NATIONAL INCOME
dc.subject	NATURAL DISASTERS
dc.subject	NATURAL PHENOMENA
dc.subject	NEGATIVE IMPACTS
dc.subject	NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE
dc.subject	NUCLEAR POWER
dc.subject	OCEAN CIRCULATION
dc.subject	OCEAN CURRENTS
dc.subject	PANDEMIC
dc.subject	PANDEMICS
dc.subject	PARTICLES
dc.subject	PARTICULATE
dc.subject	PARTICULATE MATTER
dc.subject	PARTICULATES
dc.subject	POLICY ANALYSIS
dc.subject	POLICY IMPLICATIONS
dc.subject	PORTFOLIO
dc.subject	PRECAUTIONARY APPROACH
dc.subject	PRECIPITATION
dc.subject	PUBLIC SAFETY
dc.subject	PUMPS
dc.subject	PURCHASES
dc.subject	RADIATIVE FORCING
dc.subject	RAINFALL
dc.subject	RAPID MELTING
dc.subject	RATE OF CLIMATE CHANGE
dc.subject	REFLECTIVITY
dc.subject	RELATIVE PRICE
dc.subject	RELATIVE PRICES
dc.subject	RESOURCE ECONOMICS
dc.subject	RISK MANAGEMENT
dc.subject	RISK REDUCTION
dc.subject	RISK REDUCTIONS
dc.subject	RISKS FROM CLIMATE CHANGE
dc.subject	RISKS OF CLIMATE CHANGE
dc.subject	SAFETY
dc.subject	SCENARIOS
dc.subject	SCIENTIST
dc.subject	SCIENTISTS
dc.subject	SEA LEVEL RISE
dc.subject	SEA-LEVEL
dc.subject	SEA-LEVEL RISE
dc.subject	SENSITIVITY ANALYSES
dc.subject	SET ASIDE
dc.subject	SEVERE WEATHER
dc.subject	SEVERE WEATHER EVENTS
dc.subject	STORM
dc.subject	STORMS
dc.subject	SUBSISTENCE AGRICULTURE
dc.subject	SULFATE
dc.subject	SULFATE PARTICLES
dc.subject	SULFATES
dc.subject	SULFUR
dc.subject	TEMPERATURE
dc.subject	TEMPERATURE INCREASES
dc.subject	TERRORISM
dc.subject	TERRORIST
dc.subject	THREAT OF CLIMATE CHANGE
dc.subject	THREATS OF CLIMATE CHANGE
dc.subject	TOTAL COST
dc.subject	UNCERTAINTIES
dc.subject	UPPER ATMOSPHERE
dc.subject	URBAN AREAS
dc.subject	UTILITY FUNCTION
dc.subject	UTILITY FUNCTIONS
dc.subject	WAR
dc.title	Responding to Threats of Climate Change Mega-Catastrophes
dc.type	Publications & Research :: Policy Research Working Paper
dc.coverage	The World Region
dc.coverage	The World Region