Introduction

Climate change represents one of the most significant challenges facing our global community today, with far-reaching implications for both natural environments and human societies. Navigating Climate Economics: Perspectives for a Sustainable Future brings together a diverse array of perspectives and in-depth analyses exploring the complex intersections of climate change with natural and socioeconomic systems. This anthology, composed of contributions from my undergraduate students and myself, provides commentaries for protecting nature, potential pathways, and policy measures necessary to steer our planet toward a more sustainable future.

The compilation of perspectives is structured into several thematic sections, each exploring different aspects of climate science and economics. Through these sections, the book examines the practical and theoretical frameworks that can be employed to understand and address the economic impacts of climate change. Contributors provide insights into climate change and environmental impact, adaptation and mitigation strategies, economic assessment of technologies, and feasibility of targets.

The book includes the following perspectives, commentaries and opinions:

Climate Change & Environmental Impacts

• The global economic value of the climate regulation of inland wetland ecosystems.
  • Clara Boisclair and Brook Jameus provide a commentary on the economic value of climate regulation, which is essential in mitigating floods and supporting biodiversity.

   

• Climate change in British Columbia’s forest sector.
  • Natasha Escobedo explores the impact of climate change on forestry and its economic consequences.

   

• The science & economics of blister rust on pine in North America due to climate change.
  • Chantal Gammie assesses the economics and science behind North American pine degradation influenced by climate change.

   

• British Columbia wildfires: A problem caused by & contributing to climate change.
  • Stephanie Piggin explores the dual role of how the increasing frequency of BC wildfires contributes to and is exacerbated by climate change.

   

• Climate change & Brazil’s Amazon rainforest.
  • Keerat Sidhu’s commentary discusses the effects of climate change on Amazon, the deforestation impacts, and ecological and atmospheric changes.

   

• The economics of the conservation of Mabira forest under climate change.
  • Troy Ssebanakitta explores the economic analysis of preserving Uganda’s forest under changing climatic conditions.

   

• The value of global climate regulation services of the world’s biomes.
  • Peter Tsigaris assesses the economic value of climate regulation by biomes essential for ecosystem stability and human survival.

   

• How will the Alberta oil sands affect future generations?
  • Alex Urquhart provides perspectives on the reclamation costs of the oil sands and the impact on future generations.

Climate Change Adaptation & Mitigation Strategies

• Climate change, inequality, & Indigenous communities in Canada.
  • Meghan Allan and Molly Sladden explore the disproportionate impacts on Canadian Indigenous communities, socioeconomic inequalities, and adaptation needs.

   

• Precision agriculture: Navigating climate change challenges for sustainable & profitable farming.
  • Alexandre Croteau and Alicia Guay’s commentary explores adaptation measures in farming, including technology-driven, sustainable, and economically viable practices, to navigate climate challenges.

   

• Is there enough time to limit warming to 2°C? The cost & speed of a renewable energy transition.
  • Adria Huser analyzes the costs and speed of transitioning to renewable energy to meet climate goals.

   

• The economic implications of sea-level rise for coastal cities & adaptation strategies.
  • Ella Lindsay and Emma Chretien explore the implications for coastal cities and the economic assessment of adaptation strategies to rising seas.

   

• Coastal adaptation measures in the Aquitaine region of southern France.
  • Dipika Popatlal comments on measures needed to combat rising sea levels and erosion in Southern France.

   

• Navigating the waves: Analyzing climate change impacts on global fisheries & socioeconomic resilience.
  • Andres Street and Lubo Magdolen comment on the economic and social impacts of the migration of fisheries due to climate-induced changes.

   

• Soil degradation & mitigation techniques: A means to economic success.
  • Ali Waterhouse provides information on techniques and their economic benefits essential for sustainable agriculture and environmental health.

   

• Can we mitigate the costs of flood damage through wetlands?
  • Kyra Williamson’s perspective argues that wetlands are environmental sponges and prevent flooding. Restoring degraded wetlands pays off.

Technological & Economic Assessments

• Combustion engine vs. electric vehicle: An economic assessment.
  • Trayton Brown and Alec Floen provide perspectives comparing the total economic cost of traditional and electric vehicles.

   

• Cold climate conditions & electric vehicle battery degradation.
  • Teryn Cameron tackles the effects of cold climates on electric vehicle batteries.

   

• Economics in a changing climate: Investigating the economic consequences of climate change on marine ecosystems.
  • Olivia Davey assesses the economic consequences and adjustments needed due to climate change in marine sectors.

   

• Satellite technology, methane, & climate change economics.
  • Patrick Izett explores the role of monitoring climate change and the economic implications of satellite data for climate strategies.

   

• The potential of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.
  • Zachary Johnson discusses the potential of hydrogen as a clean alternative to fossil fuels in transportation.

   

• The economic feasibility of geoengineering solutions.
  • Clinton Kaboni and Lauren Viesner conduct an economic analysis of large-scale interventions to artificially modify Earth’s climate.

   

• Unravelling threads of change: Economic & climate change-induced migration in the Sahel.
  • Ashley Thomson and Naledi Molai assess the economic and climate factors driving migration and impacts in the Sahel region.

Specific National/Regional Policy Assessments

• Will Canada hit net zero emissions by 2050?
  • Conor Brown argues that Canada never hit its targets in the past, and there is no strong evidence that it will hit its ambitious targets for 2030 and 2050.

   

• How feasible are the 2050 targets for Costa Rica?
  • Ainsley Mutrie and Moses Oyelakin discuss the feasibility of meeting their targets by 2050 by reducing transportation emissions.