How can society make informed choices about activities that cause emissions that simultaneously lead to climate change and poor air quality? In the third talk in the Center for Energy Studies' series on public policy and climate change, Drew Shindell will explore the use of a multi-impact valuation framework that extends the social cost of carbon used previously for carbon dioxide (CO2) to a broader range of pollutants and impacts. The results suggest that: 1) efforts to mitigate atmosphere-related environmental damages should target a broad set of emissions, including CO2, methane and aerosol/ozone precursors; 2) total atmosphere-related environmental damages plus generation costs are much greater for coal-fired power than other types of electricity generation; and 3) damages associated with gasoline vehicles substantially exceed those for electric vehicles. The relative importance of uncertainties in climate science, concentration-response relationships and economic projections will also be explored as they relate to the path forward to providing improved policy-relevant science.
Noon — Lunch
12:30 pm — Presentation
Featured Speaker
Drew T. Shindell, Ph.D.
Professor of Climate Sciences, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University
Welcome and Introduction
Regina M. Buono
Baker Botts Fellow in Energy and Environmental Regulatory Affairs, Baker Institute