Doktoratskolleg – Climate Change
Karl-Franzens-University Graz, Graz, Austria
Abstracts due 15 March 2015

This is a call for extended abstracts (500-1000 words), suitable for 30-40 min presentations. This symposium follows two successful workshops (i) in Spain in April 2014 and (ii) in Helsinki in November 2014. This symposium will be a chance to discuss new work in climate ethics and economics, and especially their intersection. We will have seven places for pieces answering this call. We are especially interested in the relationship between fundamental normative questions and economics in the context of Integrated Assessment Models (IAMs).

Here are questions we would like to see addressed:

-What is the methodology for normative questions in climate economics, such as in determining appropriate discount rates or utility functions?

-In answering questions about climate ethics, should we be realist/anti-realist/objectivist/subjectivist?

-Why are economic models moving so slowly (e.g. compared to physical models, which incorporate new findings very quickly), especially in terms of damage functions?

What would better (morally) informed climate economics look like? What is the role of moral philosophy in the IPCC?

-Are climate change policies actually marginal projects and, if not, what does this mean for integrated assessment models?

-If we think the apparent mathematical exactitude of climate economics is illusory, how does this compare to more deontological approaches (in particular, climate justice and human rights)?

The Call for Abstracts closes March 15, 2015. Blinded abstract submissions can be made via EasyChair. If you have any questions, please contact the organizer, Kian Mintz-Woo at kian.mintz-woo@uni-graz.at.

When submitting, please be aware we aim to have precirculation of papers (aim for 4000-5000 words, but the length is mostly at author’s discretion) and notes by June 1. Depending on funding applications, we hope to be able to defray some costs for those who are travelling without institutional support.