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The Economics of 350 on the front page of Solutions.
The Economics of 350
Volume 1: Issue 5: Oct 22, 2010Stopping global warming and protecting the Earth’s climate is a daunting challenge. To avert a crisis, we must develop petroleum-free transportation, dramatically change how we create and use energy, and much more. These changes carry a cost, and especially in difficult times there is strong resistance to spending very much at all to protect the planet. Many think moving too aggressively could lead to economic disaster. Some economists advocate only slow, gradual responses to climate change, lest the costs of mitigation become too large.
The physical science of the atmosphere is not determined by cautious economists, however. The more CO2, the hotter the world will get, the faster sea level will rise, and the more erratic our weather patterns will become. Doubling the amount of CO2 that was in the air before the Industrial Revolution—from 280 parts per million (ppm) in 1750 up to 560 ppm, a milestone we will reach in a matter of decades under business as usual—could raise the average global temperature by 3 °C (5.4 °F); newer studies actually project increases of up to 6 °C (11 °F).
To protect our planet, we propose setting a target of 350 ppm and taking prompt, decisive action to enable us to attain that goal.
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10-22-2010
This event was last updated on 11-19-2010
Meet Our Faculty
Gautam Sethi teaches environmental and natural resource economics at Bard CEP. His research includes institutional mechanisms to improve water quality in Oaxaca, Mexico, and the impact of wind farms on residential property values in the U.S.
“What I value most about Bard CEP is its ability to challenge and reshape one’s views. I am constantly challenged, by my colleagues and students, to think of the world in ways I had not hitherto, and I hope to have a similar effect on their worldview.”—Gautam Sethi, Associate Professor, Bard CEP
Monique Segarra, assistant professor of politics, teaches environmental policy analysis and climate politics. Her research focuses on the intersection of natural resource management, climate change, and human rights in the global south and the politics of water reform in Oaxaca, Mexico.
“Working with graduate students at CEP has enriched my work as a political scientist. The interdisciplinary nature of the program deepens our students’ ability to analyze and think about the policy process and how the key driver of our time, climate change and adaptation, is shaping our future policy choices.”
“Working with graduate students at CEP has enriched my work as a political scientist. The interdisciplinary nature of the program deepens our students’ ability to analyze and think about the policy process and how the key driver of our time, climate change and adaptation, is shaping our future policy choices.”
