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Ramona Iulia DIEACONESCU
Academia de Studii Economice din Bucureşti
Andra Nicoleta MECU
Academia de Studii Economice din Bucureşti
Florentina CHIŢU
Academia de Studii Economice din Bucureşti
This paper aims to research the complex interplay between natural and anthropogenic factors driving climate change. Climate change, defined as long-term alterations in temperatures and weather patterns, is influenced by both solar variability and human activities. The human contribution, primarily through emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) such as CO2 and CH4 from fossil fuel combustion, agriculture, and deforestation, has significantly impacted global warming. The asymmetry in countries’ contributions to GHG emissions highlights the uneven distribution of responsibility, with industrialized nations being major contributors. The economic evaluation of risks associated with climate change reveals substantial costs, including the deterioration of quality of life, food and water insecurity, and infrastructural challenges. Uncertainties persist regarding the precise extent of these impacts, complicating mitigation strategies. The interconnectedness of environmental and economic systems underscores the need for holistic approaches, as climate-induced disruptions affect economic stability and vice versa. The distribution of costs and benefits is also uneven, with vulnerable regions, particularly in Africa, bearing the brunt of adverse effects such as heatwaves, droughts, and floods, while industrialized nations might experience different economic pressures. In conclusion, addressing climate change requires comprehensive understanding and mitigation of both natural and anthropogenic drivers. Effective strategies must consider the asymmetry in contributions and impacts, ensuring equitable distribution of costs and benefits. This research observes the rationales for global cooperation and policy interventions to mitigate the profound socio-economic and environmental risks posed by climate change.

ŒCONOMICA no. 4/2023
Keywords: climate change, greenhouse gases, global warming, anthropogenic impact, economic evaluation
JEL: Q01, Q54, Q56
Assessing the Interplay of Natural and Anthropogenic Factors in Climate Change: An Economic and Environmental Analysis [Evaluarea interacţiunii factorilor naturali şi antropici în schimbările climatice: o analiză economică şi de mediu]