Real People, Real Impacts: The Climate Impact Equity Lens

The Climate Impact Equity Lens (CIEL) tool shifts the focus from aggregate regional economic models to individual-level impacts of climate change. It identifies 'winners' and 'losers' by weighing avoided emission-reduction costs against climate damages. While most people currently see net gains from inaction, the tool indicates that by 2100, the majority of the global population will suffer net losses without far-reaching climate policy.

• Aggregate economic models and per capita averages used by policymakers fail to capture the actual severity of climate impacts on specific individuals or the wide range of projected outcomes.
• The CIEL tool identifies net 'winners' and 'losers' by comparing the costs of emission reductions avoided against the resulting climate damages in a scenario where no action is taken to prevent dangerous climate change.
• While most people worldwide currently experience net gains from inaction, the long-term projection is that the majority of the global population will be net 'losers' by 2100 unless deliberate climate policies to control greenhouse gas emissions are implemented.

APA

Stanton, E. A., Bueno, R., & Davis, M. (2011). Real People, Real Impacts: The Climate Impact Equity Lens. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://www.sei.org/publications/real-people-real-impacts-the-climate-impact-equity-lens-policy-brief/

Chicago

Stanton, E. A., R. Bueno, and M. Davis. Real People, Real Impacts: The Climate Impact Equity Lens. Stockholm Environment Institute, 2011. https://www.sei.org/publications/real-people-real-impacts-the-climate-impact-equity-lens-policy-brief/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Stanton |first1=E. A. |last2=Bueno |first2=R. |last3=Davis |first3=M. |title=Real People, Real Impacts: The Climate Impact Equity Lens |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |date=29 November 2011 |url=https://www.sei.org/publications/real-people-real-impacts-the-climate-impact-equity-lens-policy-brief/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{stanton2011real, author = {Stanton, E. A. and Bueno, R. and Davis, M.}, title = {{Real People, Real Impacts: The Climate Impact Equity Lens}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2011}, month = nov, url = {https://www.sei.org/publications/real-people-real-impacts-the-climate-impact-equity-lens-policy-brief/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }