Economists are not engaged enough with the IPCC

The representation of economics in IPCC Assessment Reports has evolved and is currently declining, notably in Working Group II (WGII), where economists have never been well represented. Recent participating economists are often outside mainstream academic economics departments and publish less in core economics outlets. Economics can substantially contribute to addressing climate change challenges, yet limited involvement reflects both supply (few economists focus on climate change) and demand (the IPCC’s limited recruitment of economists) problems. This paper argues economists should be part of the IPCC, examines features of economic research that limit engagement, considers why the IPCC appears not to welcome economists, and suggests that prospects for collaboration may be improving.