The Earth has humans, so why don’t our climate models?

Brian Beckage (), Katherine Lacasse, Jonathan M. Winter, Louis J. Gross, Nina Fefferman, Forrest M. Hoffman, Sara S. Metcalf, Travis Franck, Eric Carr, Asim Zia and Ann Kinzig
Additional contact information
Brian Beckage: University of Vermont
Katherine Lacasse: Rhode Island College
Jonathan M. Winter: Dartmouth College
Louis J. Gross: University of Tennessee
Nina Fefferman: University of Tennessee
Forrest M. Hoffman: Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Sara S. Metcalf: The State University of New York at Buffalo
Travis Franck: Climate Interactive
Eric Carr: University of Tennessee
Asim Zia: University of Vermont
Ann Kinzig: Arizona State University

Climatic Change, 2020, vol. 163, issue 1, No 12, 188 pages

Abstract: Abstract While climate models have rapidly advanced in sophistication over recent decades, they lack dynamic representation of human behavior and social systems despite strong feedbacks between social processes and climate. The impacts of climate change alter perceptions of risk and emissions behavior that, in turn, influence the rate and magnitude of climate change. Addressing this deficiency in climate models requires a substantial interdisciplinary effort to couple models of climate and human behavior. We suggest a multi-model approach that considers a range of theories and implementations of human behavior and social systems, similar to the multi-model approach that has been used to explore the physical climate system. We describe the importance of linking social factors with climate processes and identify four priorities essential to advancing the development of coupled social-climate models.

Keywords: Coupled social-climate models; Natural-human systems; Climate change; Behavioral theory (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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DOI: 10.1007/s10584-020-02897-x

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