Socio-Economic Effects of Climate Tipping Points

PhD position

Utrecht University invites applications for a PhD position focused on investigating the socio-economic consequences of climate tipping points, with a particular emphasis on the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) and its implications for Europe. As climate change accelerates, concerns are growing about reaching tipping points in the Earth's system. The IPCC defines tipping points as “critical thresholds beyond which a system reorganizes, often abruptly and/or irreversibly.” One such critical system is the AMOC, a major component of global ocean circulation and a key driver of regional climate patterns.

Responsibilities:

Use data analysis and modeling to assess the socio-economic impacts of an AMOC weakening.
Work with and potentially extend the IMAGE integrated assessment model, which links climate dynamics with human behavior.
Apply cost-benefit models to evaluate financially optimal strategies in light of tipping risks.
Explore behavioral responses to climate tipping using agent-based models.
Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team with expertise in tipping points, economics, climate modelling, and behavioral science.

The position offers significant flexibility and intellectual freedom, allowing you to shape the project’s direction based on your own interests within the broader theme of human-climate system interactions.