Climate Change

About

This course is about one of the greatest challenges of our time: climate change. What are the latest insights of the science of economics into its causes and potential solutions? How large are the costs of climate change? Should we tax carbon, cap-and-trade emission rights, or subsidize solar and wind power? Why is it so difficult to stick to environmental agreements such as ‘Paris’, despite the evident benefits to all? How can we prevent our industry from moving abroad if we take a leading role and ‘go it alone’ in taking environmental action? What is the role of economic growth and development? Should we stop it to avert a climate catastrophe and biodiversity loss, or can we pin our hopes on green growth?

Topics
Introduction to the economics of climate change
Optimal climate policy, carbon budgets and uncertainty
International environmental agreements
Green growth, limits to growth and degrowth
Climate policy instruments and carbon leakage

Course leader

Carolyn Fischer (World Bank), Gerard van der Meijden (Assoc Prof. VU Amsterdam), Rick van der Ploeg (Prof. at the University of Amsterdam), Steven Poelhekke (Prof. at VU Amsterdam) and Florian Wagener (Assoc Prof. at the University of Amsterdam).

Target group

Level
The Summer School welcomes (research) master students, PhD students and post-docs who are interested in learning the state-of-the art economics of climate change. We also welcome professionals from policy institutions such as central banks or international firms and institutions.

Admission requirements
Students currently pursuing a MSc, MPhil or a PhD degree; professionals with a MSc, MPhil, PhD, or equivalent degree. Especially a background in quantitative studies (mathematics, statistics, econometrics, engineering, etc.) and a basic knowledge of differential equations is useful, but no formal specific background will be required.

Course aim

To learn the state-of-the art economics of climate change.

Fee info