Michael Livermore, UChicago Law School

Understanding climate change requires the study of multiple interconnected physical, biological, and human systems. Increasingly, research attention has turned toward more explicit study of these so-called ‘coupled natural and human systems.’   In this paper, we examine the potential for “sociopolitical feedbacks” in human-climate systems in which climate damages impede the ability or willingness of societies to invest in climate mitigation or adaptation, leading to increased emissions and greater future vulnerability to climate damages. After identifying the pathway for this feedback and reviewing existing relevant literature, we engage in empirical analysis on the relationship between social conflict and environmental cooperation. We also engage in a modeling experiment using the Dynamic Integrated Climate-Economy Model to estimate the potential implications of sociopolitical feedbacks for climate damages and the social cost of carbon.