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When conflicts get heated, so does the planet: coupled social-climate dynamics under inequality
Jyler Menard1, Thomas M Bury1,2,3, Chris T Bauch1
1Department of Applied Mathematics, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, N2L 3G1.
Proceedings. Biological Sciences
|September 15, 2021
Summary
Social and climate systems are deeply intertwined, especially in unequal societies. This study reveals that social factors like homophily and inequality worsen climate change, while communication-focused policies aid mitigation.
Area of Science:
- Social-Climate Dynamics
- Evolutionary Game Theory
- Population Heterogeneity
Background:
- Climate change impacts are unevenly distributed due to social inequalities.
- Coupled social-climate models are needed to understand these asymmetries.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a social-climate model using evolutionary game theory.
- To investigate the coevolution of climate change and population heterogeneity.
Main Methods:
- Utilized evolutionary game theory with group structure.
- Simulated the interplay between social dynamics and climate change.
Main Results:
- Increased homophily and resource inequality raise global peak temperature anomalies by up to 0.7°C.
- Climate change can drive opinion polarization within populations.
- Reducing mitigation costs is socio-economically dependent; inter-strata communication policies show broader benefits.
Conclusions:
- Social factors significantly influence climate change outcomes.
- Effective climate change mitigation requires a social-climate systems approach.
- Policies fostering communication across societal strata are crucial for broad mitigation success.
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