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Comparing the Effects of Greenhouse Gas Emissions on Global Warming

Abstract:
This paper analyses the usefulness as a policy tool of a physical index of radiative forcing of a greenhouse gas, the Global Warming Potential (GWP), as proposed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. It is shown that the economic opportunity costs of an increment in radiative forcing will vary over time, while the GWP implicitly sets these costs equal. The GWP can, therefore, play no role in policy making.

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Energy Specializations: Energy and the Environment – Climate Change and Greenhouse Gases

JEL Codes: Q54: Climate; Natural Disasters and Their Management; Global Warming, Q41: Energy: Demand and Supply; Prices, Q43: Energy and the Macroeconomy, Q53: Air Pollution; Water Pollution; Noise; Hazardous Waste; Solid Waste; Recycling

Keywords: Greenhouse gases, Climate change, Energy Policy, Global warming potential (GWP)

DOI: 10.5547/ISSN0195-6574-EJ-Vol13-No1-2

Published in Volume 13, Number 1 of the bi-monthly journal of the IAEE's Energy Economics Education Foundation.

 

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