Real People, Real Impacts: The Climate Impact Equity Lens

The Climate Impact Equity Lens (CIEL) is a tool developed by the Stockholm Environment Institute to calculate net climate impacts for individuals rather than regional averages. By comparing climate damages against the savings gained from not investing in emission reductions, CIEL demonstrates that while some individuals are currently 'net winners,' the vast majority of the global population will become 'net losers' by 2100 and 2150 as damages outpace savings.

• The Climate Impact Equity Lens (CIEL) is an Excel-based tool designed to calculate net climate impacts for individuals by comparing estimated damages from climate change against the savings achieved by not spending money on emission reductions.
• CIEL identifies four primary factors that determine an individual's vulnerability to climate damages: per capita income, economic vulnerability (reliance on sectors like agriculture, fishing, and tourism), vulnerability to sea-level rise, and local water shortage vulnerability.
• Current global climate impacts are unevenly distributed, with some individuals acting as 'net winners' (where savings from avoided emission costs exceed damages) and others as 'net losers.' However, the number of net losers is growing, and by 2100, almost everyone globally will be a net loser.
• Regional averages often mask extreme diversity in climate vulnerability. In 2100, the 'average person' in Africa and Developing Asia/Pacific suffers net losses, while the average person in China, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Other High Income regions, and the United States sees net gains.
• By 2150, climate damages are projected to exceed savings for the average person in every world region except China, though even China is close to the break-even line.
• In the Caribbean, high vulnerability is driven by a high share of GDP from tourism, agriculture, and fisheries, as well as significant populations living below 5 meters elevation. By 2100, only a small minority (such as the sample person from the British Virgin Islands) will still experience net gains, while others, particularly in Haiti, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic, will face net losses exceeding 40 percent of income.

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/mediamanager/documents/Publications/SEI-Report-Stanton-RealPeopleRealImpacts-2011.pdf

Chicago

Stanton, Elizabeth A., Ramón Bueno, and Marion Davis. Real People, Real Impacts: The Climate Impact Equity Lens. Stockholm Environment Institute, 2011. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/SEI-Report-Stanton-RealPeopleRealImpacts-2011.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Stanton |first1=Elizabeth A. |last2=Bueno |first2=Ramón |last3=Davis |first3=Marion |title=Real People, Real Impacts: The Climate Impact Equity Lens |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |date=November 2011 |url=https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/SEI-Report-Stanton-RealPeopleRealImpacts-2011.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{stanton2011real, author = {Stanton, Elizabeth A. and Bueno, Ramón and Davis, Marion}, title = {{Real People, Real Impacts: The Climate Impact Equity Lens}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2011}, month = nov, url = {https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/SEI-Report-Stanton-RealPeopleRealImpacts-2011.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }