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Abstract
This paper examines the newly constructed geographically scaled economic output
measure, Gross Cell Product (GCP), of Australia and New Zealand to quantify the
impacts of climate change in the region. The paper discusses advantages of using the
GCP instead of the Gross Domestic Product. The paper reveals that the GCP falls
sharply as temperature increases in the region. A 1 degree Celsius increase in temperature would
decrease the productivity with an elasticity of )2.4. A 1 per cent decrease in precipitation
would decrease productivity with an elasticity of )2.3. However, forest vegetation
on the coasts will benefit from initial warming. We find that the changes in climate
means are potentially more harmful than changes in climate variability. In the long
term, a 3.4 warming coupled with 6.6 mm decrease in rainfall would decrease the
GCP by 34 per cent by 2060. The damage is largely accounted for by population
effects. The paper confirms that Australia is highly constrained by climate and
geographic factors.