An Introduction to Climate Change Economics and Policy / Edition 2

by Felix R. FitzRoy, Elissaios Papyrakis

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781138782228
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	04/19/2016
Series:	Routledge Textbooks in Environmental and Agricultural Economics
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	254
Product dimensions:	9.20(w) x 6.10(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Felix R. FitzRoy is Professor Emeritus of Economics in the School of Economics and Finance at the University of St. Andrews in the UK.

Elissaios Papyrakis is a Senior Lecturer in Economics at the International Institute of Social Studies of the Erasmus University Rotterdam in the Netherlands and in the School of International Development of the University of East Anglia in the UK.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction 2. Basic science - and some politics - of climate change 3. Sustainable agriculture: Sequestering carbon for food security 4. Economic growth, well-being and sustainability 5. Development in a changing climate 6. Ethics and climate change 7. Kyoto and other international environmental agreements 8. Incentives for mitigation – carbon taxes and emissions trading 9. The costs of climate change and the benefits of mitigation 10. Green fiscal policy: From austerity to full employment in a low-carbon economy

Editorial Reviews

Praise for the first edition:

'A tour de force. Brings together the current state of knowledge about global climate change in an accessible, insightful and penetrating way, convincingly demonstrates the need to act quickly and decisively, and shows the reader how that can best be done.' — Roger Perman, Strathclyde University

'This book provides a unique introduction to the economics and policy (as well as a bit on the science) of climate change, written in a very attractive style. It addresses some surprising but relevant topics, and offers very clear statements and insights. There is no text that comes even close in contents and style, and I warmly recommend this book to everyone interested in, or worried about, climate change. Or perhaps better, it should be obligatory reading for those ignorant or not concerned about it.' — Jeroen van den Bergh, Autonomous University of Barcelona and Free University, Amsterdam

'A welcome, clear and accessible introduction that challenges current approaches to climate change, throws the spotlight on food and farming and the urgent need to change policies to prevent catastrophic climate change, agricultural collapse, mass deaths and major conflicts.' — Geoff Tansey, Joseph Rowntree Visionary for a Just and Peaceful World

'This book provides a very accessible and understandable introduction to the economics and policy of climate change. As a partisan in some of the debates, I cannot be expected to agree with all of the authors' argument. But I highly recommend this book to those seeking a better understanding of what is at stake.' — Eric Neumayer, London School of Economics and Political Science

From the Publisher