Why Climate Initiatives Tend to Fail

By Christopher Lingle

GUATEMALA CITY ― A U.N. summit on climate change at the recent U.N. General Assembly meeting was supposed to give momentum for a post-Kyoto accord to be penned in December in Copenhagen.

Indeed, an announcement was made that most leaders agreed that there is an ``urgent and significant need'' to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

But even though most participants accept the controversial claim that human-based carbon emissions cause climate change, they are unlikely to agree to significant curbs.

And if such an accord is reached, it is unlikely to be implemented, not even by those countries that supply the most vocal and ardent supporters.

While the U.S. drew international criticism for not adhering to the Kyoto Protocol, from every performance and compliance standard, most countries that signed on did not fulfill their promises.

The biggest hurdle to reaching agreement on a scheme to curb emissions is that it will impose high costs on some countries while benefits are enjoyed by all.

As such, negotiations to reduce carbon emissions involve a ``prisoners' dilemma'' game that lacks an enforcement mechanism and where interaction relating to an agreement is limited.