Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Continue' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

Accept all cookies Reject all non-essential cookies

Global Temperature and Global Mortality

Audience: Member of University - ALL Format: In Person
Add to my calendar

SSEE Environment and Resource Economics Seminar

Monday, 8 June 2026, 3pm to 4.15pm

This paper documents large indirect mortality impacts of climate change. Exploiting natural global temperature variability, we find that 1°C of warming increases annual mortality by 2.5 deaths per 1,000 individuals, compared to 0.1 deaths per 1,000 due to the associated local heat exposure. Using external estimates of the impact of global income on mortality, we show that the macroeconomic effects of global temperature changes explain 70% of the gap between these estimates. We use this evidence to estimate damage functions in a neoclassical growth model with finite lifespans. Mortality contributes $420 per ton of CO2 to the Social Cost of Carbon, or one quarter of total climate damages. These results suggest that economic adaptation has a double dividend by also reducing climate-related mortality.

Speaker(s): Adrien Bilal

Series: SSEE Environment and Resource Economics Seminar

Venue: Manor Road Building - Seminar Room C - Seminar Room C Manor Road Building Manor Road Oxford Oxfordshire OX1 3UQ United Kingdom

Department: Economics (Department)