Evaluating Broad Impacts of Emissions with a Focus on Methane

10 Questions for Drew Shindell, Duke University

Emissions to the atmosphere contribute to global warming, damage public health, and reduce the yield of agricultural and forest ecosystems. Quantifying these damages to the planetary commons by calculating their social costs facilitates more comprehensive cost-benefit analyses of emissions control measures. Quantification of the full social costs and range of impacts may help catalyze actions to reduce emissions and thereby provide a broad set of societal benefits.