Preface
This book covers topics on the economics of climate change, mostly from a Latin
American perspective. It is the product of papers’ presentations and discussions that
took place at the “First Workshop on Environmental Economics and Energy” held
at The Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina, in the City of Buenos Aires, in
April 2018.
Climate change is the most pressing problem and the biggest challenge that
humanity is facing nowadays. Countries around the globe are seeking alternative
strategies to mitigate and adapt to the consequences of global warming. Latin
American countries’ role in shaping the regional climate agenda is yet to be
explored. This book seeks to contribute to this policy agenda by putting together
the research carried out by Argentinian economists on issues related to climate
change, natural resources, the environment, and the economy.
In this volume, economists investigate the impacts of climate change and the
policies to mitigate and adapt to the global temperature increase from an empirical
and theoretical perspective. The potential health impact of climate change is at the
forefront of the concerns. In the first chapter, García-Witulski and Rabassa explore
the effect of extreme temperatures on mortality risks, emphasizing gender and age
differences.
In the second chapter, Ahumada and Cornejo analyze the effects of global
warming on agricultural yields, using data of soybean crops in Argentina.
Agricultural production is highly sensitive to climate change. A considerable
decline in crop production can result from global temperature increases and
changing rainfall patterns. This production drop would be a threat to the fulfillment
of global needs for food, animal feed, and biofuel.
In the second part of the book, contributors offer a macroeconomic perspective
on climate change. Conte Grand asserts that the only way to meet the Paris
Agreement goals with sustained growth is by decoupling economic activities from
carbon emissions. The chapter explores the potential conflict between growth and
emission reduction based on the international experience of different countries
from 1990 to 2012.
Efforts to establish a global climate policy have been unsuccessful, despite years
of climate negotiations. Thus, governments are exploring alternative strategies to
ix
This book covers topics on the economics of climate change, mostly from a Latin
American perspective. It is the product of papers’ presentations and discussions that
took place at the “First Workshop on Environmental Economics and Energy” held
at The Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina, in the City of Buenos Aires, in
April 2018.
Climate change is the most pressing problem and the biggest challenge that
humanity is facing nowadays. Countries around the globe are seeking alternative
strategies to mitigate and adapt to the consequences of global warming. Latin
American countries’ role in shaping the regional climate agenda is yet to be
explored. This book seeks to contribute to this policy agenda by putting together
the research carried out by Argentinian economists on issues related to climate
change, natural resources, the environment, and the economy.
In this volume, economists investigate the impacts of climate change and the
policies to mitigate and adapt to the global temperature increase from an empirical
and theoretical perspective. The potential health impact of climate change is at the
forefront of the concerns. In the first chapter, García-Witulski and Rabassa explore
the effect of extreme temperatures on mortality risks, emphasizing gender and age
differences.
In the second chapter, Ahumada and Cornejo analyze the effects of global
warming on agricultural yields, using data of soybean crops in Argentina.
Agricultural production is highly sensitive to climate change. A considerable
decline in crop production can result from global temperature increases and
changing rainfall patterns. This production drop would be a threat to the fulfillment
of global needs for food, animal feed, and biofuel.
In the second part of the book, contributors offer a macroeconomic perspective
on climate change. Conte Grand asserts that the only way to meet the Paris
Agreement goals with sustained growth is by decoupling economic activities from
carbon emissions. The chapter explores the potential conflict between growth and
emission reduction based on the international experience of different countries
from 1990 to 2012.
Efforts to establish a global climate policy have been unsuccessful, despite years
of climate negotiations. Thus, governments are exploring alternative strategies to
ix