Some Economics of Global Warming

This paper reflects on the economics and politics of an international climate policy agreement. The international community has so far failed to design institutions and a compensation scheme that would lead to an abatement effort commensurate with the IPCC recommendations that it attempts tofollow. The paper first lays out what could be a proper institutional design, minimizing the impact of abatement on the world consumer’s income, and thereby making the fight against climate change more credible. It then sketches a governance mechanism as well as an approach to compensation. Finally, it concludes with a roadmap for the negotiation.