An approximate dynamic programming framework for modeling global climate policy under decision-dependent uncertainty

Analyses of global climate policy as a sequential decision under uncertainty have been severely restricted by dimensionality and computational burdens. Therefore, they have limited the number of decision stages, discrete actions, or number and type of uncertainties considered. In particular, other f...

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Main Authors: Webster, Mort, Santen, Nidhi R., Parpas, Panos
Format: Working Paper
Language:en_US
Published: Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Engineering Systems Division 2016
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102832
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author Webster, Mort
Santen, Nidhi R.
Parpas, Panos
author_facet Webster, Mort
Santen, Nidhi R.
Parpas, Panos
author_sort Webster, Mort
collection MIT
description Analyses of global climate policy as a sequential decision under uncertainty have been severely restricted by dimensionality and computational burdens. Therefore, they have limited the number of decision stages, discrete actions, or number and type of uncertainties considered. In particular, other formulations have difficulty modeling endogenous or decision-dependent uncertainties, in which the shock at time t+1 depends on the decision made at time t. In this paper, we present a stochastic dynamic programming formulation of the Dynamic Integrated Model of Climate and the Economy (DICE), and the application of approximate dynamic programming techniques to numerically solve for the optimal policy under uncertain and decision-dependent technological change. We compare numerical results using two alternative value function approximation approaches, one parametric and one non-parametric. Using the framework of dynamic programming, we show that an additional benefit to near-term emissions reductions comes from a probabilistic lowering of the costs of emissions reductions in future stages, which increases the optimal level of near-term actions.
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spelling mit-1721.1/1028322019-04-09T15:25:36Z An approximate dynamic programming framework for modeling global climate policy under decision-dependent uncertainty Webster, Mort Santen, Nidhi R. Parpas, Panos Analyses of global climate policy as a sequential decision under uncertainty have been severely restricted by dimensionality and computational burdens. Therefore, they have limited the number of decision stages, discrete actions, or number and type of uncertainties considered. In particular, other formulations have difficulty modeling endogenous or decision-dependent uncertainties, in which the shock at time t+1 depends on the decision made at time t. In this paper, we present a stochastic dynamic programming formulation of the Dynamic Integrated Model of Climate and the Economy (DICE), and the application of approximate dynamic programming techniques to numerically solve for the optimal policy under uncertain and decision-dependent technological change. We compare numerical results using two alternative value function approximation approaches, one parametric and one non-parametric. Using the framework of dynamic programming, we show that an additional benefit to near-term emissions reductions comes from a probabilistic lowering of the costs of emissions reductions in future stages, which increases the optimal level of near-term actions. 2016-06-02T14:49:26Z 2016-06-02T14:49:26Z 2011-09 Working Paper http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102832 en_US ESD Working Papers;ESD-WP-2011-12 application/pdf Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Engineering Systems Division
spellingShingle Webster, Mort
Santen, Nidhi R.
Parpas, Panos
An approximate dynamic programming framework for modeling global climate policy under decision-dependent uncertainty
title An approximate dynamic programming framework for modeling global climate policy under decision-dependent uncertainty
title_full An approximate dynamic programming framework for modeling global climate policy under decision-dependent uncertainty
title_fullStr An approximate dynamic programming framework for modeling global climate policy under decision-dependent uncertainty
title_full_unstemmed An approximate dynamic programming framework for modeling global climate policy under decision-dependent uncertainty
title_short An approximate dynamic programming framework for modeling global climate policy under decision-dependent uncertainty
title_sort approximate dynamic programming framework for modeling global climate policy under decision dependent uncertainty
url http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/102832
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