Examine issues and decisions using the economic way of thinking; identify appropriate economic policy; communicate economics in written format

Topic

Upon finishing your degree you get a job in the government department responsible for climate change policy. Your senior manager, who does not have a background in economics, argues that developing climate change policy is best left to scientists since climate change is essentially about physical processes.

Write a short briefing paper for your senior manager explaining why human-induced climate change is an economic issue, and how economics can contribute to designing policies aimed at addressing the twin challenges of mitigating against further climate change and helping adaptation to the impacts of climate change.

Your briefing note should include an explanation of why climate change is essentially an economic problem; a description of at least one economic policy that is aimed at climate change mitigation; a description of at least one economic policy that is aimed at promoting efficient adaptation, and; a description of at least two features of climate change that make designing climate change policy particularly challenging.