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Time to refine key climate policy models

Nature Climate Change volume 8, pages 350–352 (2018)Cite this article

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Ambition regarding climate change at the national level is critical but is often calibrated with the projected costs — as estimated by a small suite of energy–economic models. Weaknesses in several key areas in these models will continue to distort policy design unless collectively addressed by a diversity of researchers.

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Fig. 1: Modelled industrial coal use is minimally responsive to a carbon price in one model.
Fig. 2: Limited model response in electric vehicle deployment.

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Acknowledgements

A.R.B. is a former Congressional staffer and former EPA official. The author thanks the government employees who have worked diligently over the years to provide modelling and analysis to climate policy makers. J. Larsen, J. Weyant, A. Fawcett and J. Stenhouse provided helpful feedback.

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  1. Environmental Science and Policy, Smith College, Northampton, MA, USA

    Alexander R. Barron

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Correspondence to Alexander R. Barron.

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Barron, A.R. Time to refine key climate policy models. Nature Clim Change 8, 350–352 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-018-0132-y

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