Introduction

Due to global mixing of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere, anthropogenic climate change is a global commons problem. For this reason, international cooperation is necessary to achieve significant progress in mitigating climate change. Drawing on published research, this chapter critically examines and evaluates the ways in which agreements and instruments for international cooperation have been and can be organized and implemented. The retrospective analysis of international cooperation in the chapter quantifies and discusses what has been achieved to date, and surveys the literature on explanations of successes and failures.

The scope of the chapter is defined by the range of feasible international agreements and other policy instruments for cooperation on climate-change mitigation and adaptation. The disciplinary scope spans the social sciences of economics, political science, international relations, law, public policy, psychology, and sociology; relevant humanities, including history and philosophy; and—where relevant to the discussion—the natural sciences. Where appropriate, the chapter synthesizes literature that utilizes econometric modelling, integrated modelling, game theory, comparative case studies, legal analysis, and political analysis. This chapter focuses on research and policy developments since the Fourth Assessment Report (AR4) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC, 2007).

Framing concepts for an assessment of means for international cooperation

This section introduces the concept of a global commons problem to frame the challenge of international cooperation on climate change, principles for designing effective international climate policy, and criteria for evaluating these policies.

13.2.1 Framing concepts and principles

13.2.1.1 The global commons and international climate cooperation

Climate change is a global commons problem, meaning reduction in emissions by any jurisdiction carries an economic cost, but the benefits (in the form of reduced damages from climate change) are spread around the world—although unevenly—due to GHG emissions mixing globally in the atmosphere. Mitigation of climate change is non-excludable, meaning it is difficult to exclude any individual or institution from the shared global benefits of emissions reduction undertaken by any localized actor.