The Impact of Adaptation on the Stability of International Environmental Agreements

Breton, M; Sbragia, L.

Abstract

We examine the stability of international environmental agreements that include clauses pertaining to both adaptation and mitigation measures. We assume that adaptation requires a prior irreversible investment and presents the characteristics of a private good by reducing a country’s vulnerability to the impact of pollution, while mitigation policies produce a public good by reducing the total amount of pollution. Using a stylized model, we show that adaptive measures can be used strategically and that their inclusion in environmental agreements enhances agreement stability and can even lead to full cooperation. We examine the robustness of agreements including both adaptation and mitigation measures against renegotiation. Finally, we evaluate how including adaptive measures for climate change in international environmental agreements affects welfare and overall pollution.

Citation

Breton, M., & Sbragia, L. (2019). The Impact of Adaptation on the Stability of International Environmental Agreements. Environmental and Resource Economics, 74(2), 697-725. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10640-019-00341-y

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 7, 2019
• Online Publication Date: Mar 26, 2019
• Publication Date: Oct 31, 2019
• Deposit Date: Mar 26, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 26, 2020
• Journal: Environmental and Resource Economics
• Print ISSN: 0924-6460
• Electronic ISSN: 1573-1502
• Publisher: Springer
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 74
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 697-725
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10640-019-00341-y
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1305290