Thirty two years ago, on this day, June 14th, 1993, the OECD and IEA talk climate.
International Conference on the Economics Of Climate Change
OECD/IEA Paris
14-16 June 1993
[en] An international Conference on the Economics of Climate Change was convened by the OECD and the International Energy Agency (IEA) in Paris, in June 1993. Participants included many of the world’s foremost experts in the field, as well as representatives from business, labour, and other non-governmental organisations. The Conference sought to examine points of consensus and divergence among existing studies on the economics of climate change. Participants also focused on how economic analysis could contribute to meeting the obligations of OECD countries under the 1992 Framework Convention on Climate Change. Discussions centered on such topics as the economic costs and benefits of greenhouse gas mitigation strategies, the potential role of carbon taxes and other economic instruments in the policy mix, possibilities for technological change and diffusion, especially in the energy sector, and joint abatement action between industrialized and developing countries. This volume contains the papers presented at the Conference, as well as summaries of the subsequent discussions. It provides an overview of the ‘state of the art’ in the economics of climate change and several suggestions for future research. (author)
The amount of carbon dioxide in the air was roughly 360ppm. As of 2025 it is 430ppm, but check here for daily measures.
The broader context was that the OECD had been set up in the early 1960s as “the rich men’s club”. The IEA as a kind of offshoot of it in 1974, to cope with the consequences of the quadrupling of energy prices after the Arab Oil Embargo. Both groups had been doing some thinking/co-ordinating about climate change from the late 1970s onwards
The specific context was that the Rio Earth Summit had given the world a relatively toothless “United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change” – with no targets or timetables for emissions reductions by rich nations (thanks, Uncle Sam!). It hadn’t been ratified but everyone knew it probably would be. And so, a meeting to discuss economic implications, technological and policy options etc.
What I think we can learn from this
As human beings that the “smartest” among us are not that smart. Homo “sapiens” my fat arse.
As “active citizens” – that expensively indoctrina…sorry “educated” people with the “right” credentials have been summitting and conferencing for decades, and here we are.
Academics might like to ponder the above two sentences, while looking in the mirror.
What happened next
xxx
What do you think? Does this pass the ‘so what?’ threshold? Have I got facts wrong? Interpretation wrong? Please do comment on this post, unless you are a denialist, obvs.
You can see the chronological list of All Our Yesterdays “on this day” posts here.
What do you think? Does this pass the ‘so what?’ threshold? Have I got facts wrong? Interpretation wrong? Please do comment on this post, unless you are a denialist, obvs.
If you want to get involved, let me know.
If you want to invite me on your podcast, that would boost my ego and probably improve the currently pitiful hit-rate on this site (the two are not-unrelated).
Also on this day:
June 14, 1979 – the messy inclusion of climate change in energy politics – All Our Yesterdays