Climate econometric models indicate solar geoengineering would reduce inter-country income inequality

This paper explores the heterogeneity in the economic impacts of solar geoengineering, using macroeconomic impact models widely applied to climate change assessments. By combining historical evidence with climate simulations, the study projects socioeconomic outcomes under high emissions scenarios where global temperatures are stabilized or over-cooled by blocking solar radiation. The findings show that while the impacts on global GDP per capita are temperature-driven, dispersed, and model-dependent, income inequality between countries is consistently lower with solar geoengineering. This consistent reduction in inequality is a significant finding for discussions on the distributional impacts of solar geoengineering.

Anthony R. Harding, Katharine Ricke, Daniel Heyen, Douglas G. MacMartin, Juan Moreno-Cruz