Gauging Economic Consensus on Climate Change

A global survey of 738 economists who publish in top-tier academic journals reveals a strong consensus that the economic costs of climate inaction exceed the costs of action. The findings indicate that climate change will likely cause major GDP losses, reduce long-term economic growth, and increase economic inequality both within and between nations. Furthermore, the surveyed experts expressed optimism regarding the affordability of zero-emissions technologies and agreed that aggressive targets to achieve net-zero emissions by midcentury are economically justified.

• There is a strong consensus among surveyed economists that the economic costs of failing to act on climate change are greater than the costs of taking action, making immediate and aggressive emissions reductions economically desirable.
• Economists predict that climate change will lead to significant GDP losses, a decline in long-term economic growth, and an increase in economic inequality both globally and domestically.
• The surveyed experts believe that zero-emissions technologies are viable and affordable, and that pursuing net-zero emissions by midcentury is justified by a cost-benefit analysis.

APA

Sylvan, P. H. A. D. (2021). Gauging Economic Consensus on Climate Change. Institute for Policy Integrity. https://policyintegrity.org/publications/detail/gauging-economic-consensus-on-climate-change

Chicago

Sylvan, Peter Howard and Derek. Gauging Economic Consensus on Climate Change. Institute for Policy Integrity, 2021. https://policyintegrity.org/publications/detail/gauging-economic-consensus-on-climate-change.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Sylvan |first1=Peter Howard and Derek |title=Gauging Economic Consensus on Climate Change |publisher=Institute for Policy Integrity |date=30 March 2021 |url=https://policyintegrity.org/publications/detail/gauging-economic-consensus-on-climate-change |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{sylvan2021gauging, author = {Sylvan, Peter Howard and Derek}, title = {{Gauging Economic Consensus on Climate Change}}, institution = {Institute for Policy Integrity}, year = {2021}, month = mar, url = {https://policyintegrity.org/publications/detail/gauging-economic-consensus-on-climate-change}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }