About us

The Dialogue on the Economics of Climate Change, coordinated by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, accompanies and supports the BMBF funding measure Economics of Climate Change II.

The future development of climate change strongly depends on the current decisions about investments, consumption and regulation in the economy, society and politics. At the same time all areas are already affected by climate change impacts. However, knowledge about their interrelation and the efficient instruments for practicable climate policy are often missing. Therefore, the BMBF funding measure Economics of Climate Change II sponsors 29 research projects (until the end of 2022) that provide solution-oriented knowledge in the field of climate economics.

To enable an informed public discourse, the communication of the projects' results beyond the research community is of crucial importance. In order to support this transfer of knowledge and to strengthen the exchange between scientists and practitioners, the funding measure is accompanied and supported by the Dialogue on the Economics of Climate Change. Invited to the dialogue are representatives of NGOs, industry, public authorities and politics.

The projects are divided into four themes and one cross-cutting theme:

1. Climate protection & transformation: Decarbonisation – Competitiveness – Quality of life
2. Climate protection: Instruments and policies after COP21
3. Dealing with climate risks
4. International climate policy
5. Cross-cutting theme: Financial markets, financial sector and climate finance

Each theme is coordinated by members of our Executive Board. Additionally, the dialogue is supported by an Advisory Board – a group of commercial and (non-)governmental stakeholders.

Objectives

The main objectives of the Dialogue on the Economics of Climate Change are:

• Facilitate the knowledge exchange and cooperation between climate economists and different stakeholders (NGOs, industry, public authorities and politics)
• Strengthen the practical relevance of climate economic research
• Increase the visibility of climate economic research in the social discourse
• Support early career researchers
• Contribute to the internationalization of the funding measure Economics of Climate Change II

Events

The Dialogue on the Economics of Climate Change organizes a wide variety of events.

The Kick-off Conference took place in June 2019. During the event the projects had the opportunity to present themselves and develop ideas for joint activities.

Furthermore, the event series Forum Climate Economics – which has already started during the first phase of the funding measure Economics of Climate Change – will be continued. These fora address societal, commercial, (non-)governmental and academic stakeholders. As current topics of the climate and energy policy debate are taken up, the fora offer insights into recent research results and give the opportunity for discussion and informal exchange between science and practice.

A number of events have already been organized in the Forum Climate Economics series during the second funding phase: The Forum Climate Economics 6 "CO₂ Pricing - From Theory to Practice" took place in November 2019. Forum 7-11 were held under pandemic conditions in the years 2020 to 2022 as virtual, hybrid or analog events:

• Forum 7: Fossil Fuel Phase-out and Just Transition
• Forum 8: Transparent Climate Balances - Information for Climate-friendly Action
• Forum 9: Increasing Global Climate Ambition - How to get Lower-Income Countries and Fossil-Fuel Exporters on Board?
• Forum 10: Insurance of Climate Risks - Between Private Provision and Public Intervention
• Forum 11: The Financial Sector as Climate Protector? The Potential of Sustainable Finance

The recommendations of climate economic research as well as new insights gained during the fora were presented in concise background papers addressing decision-makers and various stakeholders.

Moreover, early career scientists will be supported by getting the opportunity to enroll for workshops, e.g. on inter- and transdisciplinary research challenges, climate economics research methods, and career development.