ABSTRACT
The phrase ‘economic climate’ is a favourite expression amongst politicians, economists, company directors, and the news media. Meteorologists and climatologists need, and should welcome, the help of economists and others in assessing the likely economic and social impact of climatic changes but this report of a task force convened by the International Institute of Applied Systems Analysis in Vienna does not inspire confidence. Climatology has, until recent years, been mainly considered outside the central concern of meteorologists. Climatology in its earliest meaning was the study of the world’s ‘normal’ weather conditions as varying with latitude and season. Many changes to the climatological scene took place in the 1960-1970 period particularly in regard to the traditional view-point of a constant climate. Information about the weather and climate can play an important role in the decision-making processes associated with management of weather-sensitive activities and enterprises. The economic and social impact of specific national weather or climate events is difficult to quantify.
