Number: RL34489
Title: Climate Change: Costs and Benefits of S. 2191
Authors: Larry Parker and Brent Yacobucci, Resource, Science, and Industry Division 
Abstract: This report examines six studies that project the costs of S. 2191 to 2030 or 2050. It is difficult (and some would consider it unwise) to project costs up to the year 2030, much less beyond. The already tenuous assumption that current regulatory standards will remain constant becomes more unrealistic, and other unforeseen events (such as technological breakthroughs) loom as critical issues which cannot be modeled. Long-term cost projections are at best speculative, and should be viewed with attentive skepticism. Despite models' inability to predict the future, cases examined here do provide insights on the costs and benefits of S. 2191.
Pages: 75
Date: May 15, 2008