Building on recent consensus findings from climate scientists, this article argues that stronger policy action to address global climate change is urgent. The article indicates how economists can better address this urgency and thereby contribute more effectively to climate policy discussions. Greater effectiveness requires that economists focus their policy assessments more sharply on the timing of policy implementation and the environmental and economic costs of delayed implementation. The article also shows that focusing more on the prospects for near-term implementation can alter the cost rankings of U.S. climate policy alternatives, increasing the attractiveness of some climate policy approaches that economists might otherwise tend to dismiss.

中文翻译：

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时间就是一切：经济学家如何更好地应对加强气候政策的紧迫性

本文基于气候科学家最近的共识发现，认为应对全球气候变化的更强有力的政策行动迫在眉睫。本文指出了经济学家如何更好地解决这一紧迫性，从而更有效地为气候政策讨论做出了贡献。更高的有效性要求经济学家将他们的政策评估更加集中在政策实施的时间以及延迟实施的环境和经济成本上。该文章还表明，更多地关注近期实施的前景可以改变美国气候政策替代方案的成本排名，从而提高某些经济学家可能会不愿接受的气候政策方法的吸引力。