Feedback effects of natural capital in the integrated assessment of global warming
My PhD project explores two related aspects of policy questions on climate change: integrated assessment models (IAMs) and public opinion on energy policy in order to identify some reasons for disagreements on climate policy, and to suggest some steps towards better formal and mental models.
About the research project
System Dynamics is a good method for improving your understanding of how complicated systems work. The modeling process requires you to make your assumptions explicit, helps you construct consistent models, and can provide surprising insights.
My PhD project explores two related aspects of policy questions on climate change: integrated assessment models (IAMs) and public opinion on energy policy. The key motivation behind this project is to identify some reasons for disagreements on climate policy, and to suggest some steps towards better formal and mental models. I use highly abstract models to analyze four issues that seem important for IAMs: (1) non-climatic forms of natural capital, (2) economic damages from natural capital degradation, (3) endogenous technological change, and (4) endogenous structural change in demand. I also focus on public opinion of natural capital conservation policy, specfically energy policy.
Stian B. Hackett defended his doctoral thesis on 18.06.2019:
Hackett, S. B. (2019). Feedback effects of natural capital in the integrated assessment of global warming [Doctoral Thesis, University of Bergen].
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Stian B. Hackett PhD