Linking models of human behaviour and climate alters projected climate change


TitleLinking models of human behaviour and climate alters projected climate change
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2018
AuthorsBeckage, B, Gross, LJ, Lacasse, K, Carr, E, Metcalf, SS, Winter, JM, Howe, PD, Fefferman, N, Franck, T, Zia, A, Kinzig, A, Hoffman, F
JournalNature Climate Change
Date Published2018/01
Abstract

Although not considered in climate models, perceived risk stemming from extreme climate events may induce behavioural changes that alter greenhouse gas emissions. Here, we link the C-ROADS climate model to a social model of behavioural change to examine how interactions between perceived risk and emissions behaviour influence projected climate change. Our coupled climate and social model resulted in a global temperature change ranging from 3.4–6.2 °C by 2100 compared with 4.9 °C for the C-ROADS model alone, and led to behavioural uncertainty that was of a similar magnitude to physical uncertainty (2.8 °C versus 3.5 °C). Model components with the largest influence on temperature were the functional form of response to extreme events, interaction of perceived behavioural control with perceived social norms, and behaviours leading to sustained emissions reductions. Our results suggest that policies emphasizing the appropriate attribution of extreme events to climate change and infrastructural mitigation may reduce climate change the most.

URLhttps://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-017-0031-7
DOI10.1038/s41558-017-0031-7
Refereed DesignationRefereed
Status: 
Published
Attributable Grant: 
BREE
Grant Year: 
Year2
Acknowledged VT EPSCoR: 
Ack-Yes
2nd Attributable Grant: 
RACC
2nd Grant Year: 
2nd_Post_Grant
2nd Acknowledged Grant: 
2nd_Ack-Yes