California: A study from the University of California, Davis, revisits the impact of climate change and rising global temperatures on GDP through an empirical methodology. It was published by IOP Publishing in the journal Environmental Research Letters.
The study found that economies are sensitive to persistent temperature shocks over at least a 10-year time frame and impacts economic growth in about 22 per cent of the countries analyzed.
"Our results suggest that many countries are likely experiencing persistent temperature effects," said lead author Bernardo Bastien-Olvera, a PhD candidate at UC Davis.
"This contrasts with models that calculate metrics like the social cost of carbon, which mostly assume temporary temperature impacts on GDP. Our research adds to the evidence suggesting that impacts are far more uncertain and potentially larger than previously thought."
Previous research examined the question by estimating the delayed effect of temperature on GDP in subsequent years, but the results were inconclusive. With this study, UC Davis scientists and co-authors from the European Institute on Economics and the Environment in Italy used a novel method to isolate the persistent temperature effects on the economy by analyzing lower modes of oscillation of the climate system.
For example, El Nino Southern Oscillation, is a 3 to 7-year temperature fluctuation in the Pacific Ocean that affects temperature and rainfall in many parts of the world.
"By looking at the GDP effects of these types of lower-frequency oscillations, we're able to distinguish whether countries are experiencing temporary or persistent and cumulative effects," Bastien-Olvera said.
The team used a mathematical procedure called filtering to remove higher frequency yearly changes in temperature.
Enormous taskThe researchers note that characterizing temperature impacts on the economy is an enormous task not likely to be answered by a single research group. (ANI)
