World Induced Technical Change Hybrid (WITCH) is a software model designed to assist in the study of the socio-economic dimensions of climate change and to help policy makers understand the economic consequences of climate policies.

The model incorporates a hybrid top-down optimization structure with a detailed bottom-up energy sector input component. It can track all of the actions which impact the level of mitigation—such as research & development expenditures, investment in carbon-free technologies and adaptation, purchases of emission permits, or expenditures for carbon taxes—and thus allows for the evaluation of the equilibrium responses stimulated by different climate policy tools.

Key questions addressed:

• How do policies impact the level of climate mitigation?

Sample data inputs:

• Gross domestic product
• Population
• Climate policies
• Resource use

Sample quantitative outputs:

• Gross domestic product
• Population growth
• Primary energy
• Electricity consumption

Access World Induced Technical Change Hybrid (WITCH).

Resources:

Technical papers

Related publications and case studies.