Economic environmental systems modelling

Bio-economic models of the impact of climate change on regional economies play a significant role in determining responsibility and policy responses to climate change. Debate on the relative responsibilities and positions of countries in international agreements, for example, are based on the output of such models (levels of Co2-e/capita and Co2-e/GDP for example).

• Carbon trading: coupled climate and carbon trading models are used to evaluate the climatic and economic impacts of carbon trading with a view to determining optimal carbon caps. This area of research explores (a) the sensitivity of these models, (b) the behavioural impacts of such models in formulating international agreements (using game theory and experimental economics techniques), and (c) how these models can link to other climate and oceanographic models.
• Biogenic aerosols: the influence of gases consumed and produced by marine plankton on the composition of the atmosphere, cloud formation and climate.