Simple Game Theoretic Considerations for Environmental Problems 【Review】

This paper uses elementary arguments from game theory to consider the interaction between protago-nists involved in environmental problems. It is argued that 'generic' global problems often result in aPrisoner's dilemma, with the status quoas equilibrium. Also, a brief consideration of the KyotoProtocol confirms that if developing countries were asked to join, their dominant strategy would be torefuse, and that the recent withdrawal of the United States leaves other signatories in a precarious posi-tion. Finally, the paper focuses on a specific recent project, the CO2 Ocean Sequestration FieldExperiment, to demonstrate that many of the difficulties hampering the resolution of global-scale envi-ronmental problems have to be dealt with at local levels as well.