An Introduction to Climate Change Economics and Policy

An Introduction to Climate Change Economics and Policy, now in its second edition, reviews new developments and reflects on the alarming lack of progress in reducing emissions. This updated edition explains the key scientific, economic and policy issues related to climate change. This second edition includes new material on nuclear energy post-Fukushima, the impact of the financial crisis on climate policy and the hype over shale gas.

The 2nd edition of An Introduction to Climate Change Economics and Policy explains the key scientific, economic and policy issues related to climate change in a completely up-to-date introduction for anyone interested, and students at all levels in various related courses, including environmental economics, international development, geography, politics and international relations.

FitzRoy and Papyrakis highlight how economists and policymakers often misunderstand the science of climate change, underestimate the growing threat to future civilization and survival and exaggerate the costs of radical measures needed to stabilize the climate. In contrast, they show how direct and indirect costs of fossil fuels – particularly the huge health costs of local pollution – actually exceed the investment needed for transition to an almost zero carbon economy in two or three decades using available technology.