Climate Change Cooperation in the Lab

Complex System

A system with properties that cannot be observed in simple systems, including nonlinearity, emergence, scale, and self-organization.

Complex Adaptive System

A heterogeneous collection of interacting agents that evolve based on the outcomes of their interactions.

Nonlinearity

A characteristic of complex systems involving uncertainty, path dependence, multiple equilibria, and threshold behavior.

Path Dependency

A process in which current outcomes depend on previous states and decisions.

Threshold Behaviour

A situation where small changes accumulate until a critical point causes a large system change.

Emergence

The appearance of unexpected large-scale patterns resulting from local interactions.

Scale

The hierarchical organization of subsystems within larger systems.

Self-Organization

The spontaneous formation of order through feedback mechanisms and adaptation.

Feedback Mechanism

A process where changes in a system reinforce or counteract future changes.

Ecological Regime Shift

A large, sudden, and often irreversible change in an ecosystem's structure and functioning.

External Shock

An outside disturbance that can trigger a regime shift.

Social-Ecological System

A system in which ecological and social processes interact to regulate resource use.

Critical Resources

Natural, socioeconomic, and cultural resources essential for system functioning.

Planetary Boundaries

Safe environmental limits within which humanity can operate sustainably.

Climate Tipping Point

A critical threshold beyond which climate changes become self-reinforcing and potentially irreversible.

Climate Cooperation

Collective action among countries or individuals to mitigate climate change.

Public Good

A good that is both non-excludable and non-rivalrous.

Non-Excludable

A characteristic where no one can be prevented from benefiting from the good.

Non-Rivalrous

A characteristic where one person's use does not reduce availability for others.

Greenhouse Gas Mitigation

The reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to limit climate change.

Prisoner's Dilemma

A game in which individual incentives lead to non-cooperative outcomes despite mutual benefits from cooperation.

Public Goods Game (PGG)

A game used to study cooperation where individuals contribute to a common pool that benefits everyone.

N-Person Prisoner's Dilemma

A generalization of the Prisoner's Dilemma involving many participants.

Cooperator

A player who contributes to the public good.

Defector

A player who benefits from the public good without contributing.

Contribution Cost (c)

The amount paid by cooperators to support the public good.

Reward Factor (r)

The multiplier applied to total contributions in a public goods game.

Free Rider

A participant who receives benefits from others' contributions without contributing.

Dominant Strategy

A strategy that provides the highest payoff regardless of others' actions.

Common Pool Resource (CPR)

A resource that is rivalrous but difficult to exclude users from accessing.

Resource Overexploitation

The excessive use of a common resource leading to depletion.

Tragedy of the Commons

A situation where individual self-interest causes collective resource depletion.

Threshold Public Goods Game

A public goods game in which benefits are obtained only if contributions exceed a critical threshold.

Contribution Threshold

The minimum total contribution required to achieve a collective benefit.

Collective-Risk Social Dilemma

A situation where failure to cooperate creates risks for everyone.

Collective Action Problem

A problem where individuals have incentives not to contribute even though everyone benefits from cooperation.

Tipping Point

A critical level at which a system shifts abruptly to a different state.

Climate Catastrophe Threshold

A contribution target that must be achieved to avoid severe climate damages.

Inequality Game

A public goods game where players begin with unequal resources.

Resource Inequality

Differences in endowments or wealth among participants.

Communication

A mechanism allowing players to discuss strategies before making decisions.

Cheap Talk

Communication that is non-binding and costless.

Uncertain Threshold Game

A threshold public goods game where the target level is uncertain.

Threshold Uncertainty

Uncertainty regarding the level required to avoid a negative outcome.

Ambiguity

Uncertainty about probabilities or thresholds.

Risk

A situation where probabilities of outcomes are known.

Risk Aversion

The tendency to prefer certain outcomes over risky alternatives.

Ambiguity Aversion

The tendency to avoid situations with unknown probabilities.

International Cooperation

Game-theoretic cooperation among countries to solve global problems.

Climate Negotiation

A bargaining process among countries regarding climate policies and commitments.

Kyoto Protocol Game

An experimental game designed to mimic international climate agreements.

Binding Target

A commitment that legally obligates participants to achieve a specified goal.

Climate Bargaining Game

A negotiation game examining how countries divide mitigation responsibilities.

Side Deal

A separate agreement made between a subset of participants.

Coalition Formation

The process by which players create groups to coordinate actions.

Spillover Effect

The indirect impact of one player's actions on others.

Conference of the Parties (COP)

International meetings where countries negotiate climate agreements.

Greenhouse Gas (GHG)

A gas that traps heat in the atmosphere and contributes to climate change.

Mitigation

The reduction of emissions or enhancement of carbon sinks to limit climate change.

Adaptation

Adjustments made to reduce vulnerability to climate impacts.

Cooperation Rate

The proportion of participants choosing cooperative actions.

Social Dilemma

A situation where individual incentives conflict with collective welfare.

Collective Benefit

The total benefit generated by successful cooperation.

Collective Failure

The inability of a group to achieve a beneficial common objective.

Partnership Approach

The idea that environmental problems require coordinated action among stakeholders.

Climate Governance

The institutions and processes used to address climate change collectively.