Climate Change: What do we do about it? Economic issues regarding agricultural adaptation and mitigation

AAEA member publishes new research in AJAE

Climate change is definatly a hot topic. Today we see a push from some in society to move away from climate change concern and work while at the same time we see ongoing groups advocating for substantial efforts. We also see many reporting observations of continuing climate change effects. Certainly we have seen increases in the incidence of major fires, sea level issues, altered regional pest and wildlife populations, and more variable agricultural yields. This has been accompanied by observations of how agriculture is shifting its production patterns and adapting management. We also see year after year increases in atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations.  In such an environment agriculture will have to adapt with policy makers, agricultural scientists and economists needing to develop information for dissemination to producers on adaptation alternatives. Additionally agriculture is a contributer to climate change being the second largest source of greenhouse gasses in the U.S. and thus the will be a player in attempts to lessen emissions as a means to lower future climate change.  In that setting agriculture must understand and present forward cost effective, dependable offsets plus sensible designs of incentive systems

In the new article “Climate Change - What Do We Do About It? Economic Issues Regarding Agricultural Adaptation and Mitigation” published in the American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Bruce McCarl from Texas A&M University discusses how climate change can effect agriculture and what exactly we can do about it.

McCarl says, “Climate change will undoubtedly affect many aspects of the agricultural sector as a driver of impacts, and as a group of producers seeking to adapt to the climate limiting or exploiting the implications of climate change impacts. Agriculture will also be a focal point for greenhouse gas mitigation efforts to reduce the future extent of climate change. Sectoral participants will need to understand, consider and possible adopt a variety of adaptation and mitigation possiblilites. Adaptation is largely inevitable and may largely be carried out by producers acting in their own best interests but may require public action to either provide publicly developed adaptation stratecgiess or facilities as well as providing funding, technology or information support for private party adaptation. Agriculture will also play an important role in mitigating climate change, as in cases it can provide low-cost net greenhouse gas reductions. This paper discusses many economic and physical aspects of adaptation and mitigation actions that have been or could be undertaken in the agricultural sector, plus it introduces some analysis results on what has or could occure.  It also presents possible directions for further examination of what adaptation ancd mitigation actions have been implemented or what could be done going into the future. Clearly, across these areas, there is a rich field for economic work and for policy deliberation.”

If you are interested in setting up an interview, please contact Allison Ware in the AAEA Business Office.

ABOUT AAEA: Established in 1910, the Agricultural & Applied Economics Association (AAEA) is the leading professional association for agricultural and applied economists, with 2,500 members in more than 60 countries. Members of the AAEA work in academic or government institutions as well as in industry and not-for-profit organizations, and engage in a variety of research, teaching, and outreach activities in the areas of agriculture, the environment, food, health, and international development. The AAEA publishes three journals, the Journal of the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association (an open access journal), the American Journal of Agricultural Economics and Applied Economic Perspectives & Policy, as well as the online magazine Choices and the online open access publication series Applied Economics Teaching Resources. To learn more, visit www.aaea.org.

Contact: Allison Ware
Senior Communications & Membership Manager
(414) 918-3190
Email: aware@aaea.org