Climate tipping points and solar geoengineering

• Published in: Journal of economic behavior & organization 2016-12, Vol.132, p.19-45
• Main Authors: Heutel, Garth, Moreno-Cruz, Juan, Shayegh, Soheil
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Climate policy; Climate tipping points; Solar geoengineering
• ISSN: 0167-2681; 1879-1751
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jebo.2016.07.002

•A model of solar geoengineering and climate tipping points is proposed.•An integrated assessment model is developed to simulate optimal climate policy.•Solar geoengineering relieves some of the risks associated with climate tipping points.•Mitigation and solar geoengineering are complementary in addressing climate tipping points. We study optimal climate policy in the presence of climate tipping points and solar geoengineering. Solar geoengineering reduces temperatures without reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Climate tipping points are irreversible and uncertain events that can alter the dynamics of the climate system. We analyze three different rules related to the availability of solar geoengineering, and we model three distinct types of tipping points. Before reaching the tipping point, the introduction of solar geoengineering reduces the amount of mitigation, lowers temperatures and increases carbon concentrations. The capacity of solar geoengineering to deal with climate damages depends on the type of tipping point. Solar geoengineering is most effective at dealing with tipping points that affect the responsiveness of temperature to carbon, and it is least effective at dealing with tipping points that cause direct economic losses.