Preventing Climate Change: Game Theory in International Climate Politics

Abstract

Climate change is a focus of policy debate throughout the world, including international forums a such as United Nations. Despite the great attention given to climate change, little in the way of collective international policy has been forthcoming. This thesis provides a game theoretic analysis of the current lack of international policy. No effective policy is apt to emerge unless everyone comes together to make drastic reforms to policies that affect climate change across the world. This thesis goes into detail as to why, internationally, we are stuck in a suboptimal equilibrium (as in the "stag hunt" game) in climate change negotiations. It then offers several conclusions as to how the game can be solved in order for this problem to have resolutions.