Good enough tools for global warming policy making

• Published in: Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series A: Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences Vol. 365; no. 1853; pp. 897 - 934
• Main Authors: Socolow, R.H, Lam, S.H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London The Royal Society 15.04.2007
• Subjects: Algorithms; Atmosphere - analysis; Atmospherics; Biomass; Carbon cycle; Carbon Dioxide - chemistry; Carbon dioxide emissions; Computer Simulation; Conservation of Energy Resources - statistics & numerical data; Emissions reduction; Energy-Generating Resources - statistics & numerical data; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Fossil fuels; Fractions; Greenhouse Effect; Headroom; Internationality; Mitigation; Models, Theoretical; Oceans; Overshoot; Parametric models; Pollutant emissions; Population Dynamics; Procrastination; Public Policy; Software; Stabilization; Trajectories; Wedges
• ISSN: 1364-503X; 1471-2962
• DOI: 10.1098/rsta.2006.1961

We present a simple analysis of the global warming problem caused by the emissions of CO
(a major greenhouse gas) into the atmosphere resulting from the burning of fossil fuels. We provide quantitative tools which enable policymakers and interested citizens to explore the following issues central to the global warming problem.
The quality of public discourse on this subject could be much enhanced if ball-park quantitative answers to these questions were more widely known.