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Seeking carbon-consistency in the climate-science-to-policy interface

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Abstract

The multi-faceted nature of anthropogenic climate change means that policy analysis must draw on a very wide range of disciplines. In combining information from a variety of sources, it is important to ensure consistency across the interfaces. This paper draws on some historical cases from carbon cycle studies in order to illustrate the type of issue involved. These are used as background for presenting current issues that arise in analysing changes in atmospheric carbon dioxide and the specification of emissions that cause these changes. Implications for consistent analysis of consequent climate changes are noted.

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Acknowledgements

The ARC Centre of Excellence for Mathematics and Statistics of Complex Systems (MASCOS) is funded by the Australian Research Council. The author’s fellowship at MASCOS is funded in part by CSIRO. The work on the global carbon cycle builds on long-term collaborations with many colleagues, particulary Drs. Etheridge, Francey, Lassey, Law, Pearman, Rayner, Trudinger and Wang. The discussion of climate-to-carbon feedbacks draws on on-going work with Dr. Nathan Clisby. The development of the manuscript benefited greatly from interaction with participants at the ‘Carbon: Global Cycle to Regional Budget’ conference in Wellington NZ, from comments by other colleagues and helpful suggestions by two anonymous referees.

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  1. ARC Centre of Excellence for Mathematics and Statistics of Complex Systems, The University of Melbourne, 139 Barry St., Melbourne, VIC, 3010, Australia

    Ian G. Enting

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  1. Ian G. Enting
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Enting, I.G. Seeking carbon-consistency in the climate-science-to-policy interface. Biogeochemistry 104, 59–67 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-009-9351-7

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