Economic assessment of climate change

Economic Annals-ХХI: Volume 139, Issue 3-4(1), Pages: 97-100

Citation information:
Shurda, K. (2014). Economic assessment of climate change. Economic Annals-XXI, 3-4(1), 97-100. https://ea21journal.world/index.php/ea-v139-25/

Kseniya Shurda
PhD (Economics),
Senior Research Fellow,
Leading Research Fellow,
Ukrainian Scientific Centre of Sea Ecology (UkrSCES)
89 Frantsuzky Blvd, Odessa, 65009, Ukraine
shurda@i.ua

Economic assessment of climate change

Abstract. Introduction. Climate change is one of the most pressing problems of modernity. Climate is a natural resource on which depend the conditions of life and human activities, directions and level of economic development. As the natural resource, climate can be used for a benefit of mankind. Climate is one of the main factors shaping the natural environment and even a minor changing it, particularly in Ukraine, can cause difficult environmental situation and significant social and economic losses.

The purpose of this publication is a comprehensive estimation of modern climate change, analysis of various economic scenarios and types of damages from climate change. The need for information on climate change has increased unprecedentedly, and today the need of bringing this information to many users is clearly visible in order to improve knowledge and understanding of global and regional climate variability and change, as well as their mechanisms.

Results. А comprehensive assessment of the climate change forecasting possibilities in modern society are discussed in the article. The global data hydro-meteorological and ecological services indicate a trend of increasing economic and environmental disharmony as a result of climate change. Climate change caused constant increase emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and other gases that create the «greenhouse effect». Today it is one of the most serious global environmental and economic challenges. Climate change for all countries, including Ukraine, means increase in number of natural disasters that expand economic losses each year to hundreds of billions of dollars (in Ukraine – about $1 billion in recent years). The author analyzes various economic scenarios and types of damages from climate change, including emissions of greenhouse gases in climate modeling.

Conclusion. Comprehensive assessments of climate change impacts on the economy, the environment and the population of Ukraine does not currently exist, although, construction of such assessments is now an actual problem. It is necessary to determine what and where in the country will be in relation to climate change. It should be taken into account that the anthropogenic component of climate change is largely determined by energy-intensive technologies stipulating the greenhouse effect and the environmental degradation in general.

Directions for further research should include the following. Estimation of the climate change predictability in its extreme complexity for identification and analysis, specification of reasons for existing developments, including human activity. Application of the results obtained in the sphere of socio-economic impacts of climate change in face of which the entire population of the planet are now put.

Keywords: Economic Assessment of Climate Change; Greenhouse Effect; Anthropogenic Emissions; Economic Adaptation

JEL Classification: C13; O13

References

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Received 03.03.2014