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Abstract We use Model United Nations simulations of the Conference of the Parties to study climate change negotiations under two different negotiation protocols. One protocol is similar to the Paris negotiations: Countries have to agree on a non-binding resolution on the reduction of world-wide CO2 emissions, and each country has to decide on a nationally determined voluntary contribution, i.e. a commitment by how much to reduce its own emissions. The second protocol focuses on a uniform carbon price. Countries have to agree to a minimum carbon price that applies to all countries signing the resolution. Schmidt and Ockenfels (2019) have shown in an abstract laboratory experiment that negotiations on a uniform minimum price for carbon achieve substantially higher reductions of CO2 emissions than Paris style negotiations. Our study builds upon this laboratory experiments and extends its scope methodologically and contextually. We conduct a field experiment, using for the first time a Model United Nations simulation of the Conference of the Parties to explore (with increased external validity) the effect of two negotiation mechanism on the CO2 emissions reduction. We randomly assign delegates to two treatments (1) Paris, (2) Uniform Global Carbon Price and measure the CO2 emissions reductions goals worldwide and at the national level. The experiment is designed such that the two treatments differ only in the negotiation protocol. We organize one-day Model United Nations conferences as Conferences of the Parties (COP) to study climate change negotiations under two different negotiation protocols.
Last Published October 11, 2019 11:34 AM October 23, 2019 08:52 AM
Intervention (Public) We organize one-day Model United Nations conferences as Conferences of the Parties (COP) in order to investigate whether the negotiation environment influences the CO2 emissions reduction. Data in three pilot studies have already been collected in 2018 and 2019 (Bern, Munich, Zurich). See pre-analysis plan (PAP)
Primary Outcomes (End Points) Our main dependent variable are the CO2 emissions reduction on both, a worldwide and a countrywide level and the voting decisions in favor / against the Resolution. See pre-analysis plan (PAP)
Experimental Design (Public) We implement two treatments in a between-subjects design: 1) Paris, 2) Uniform Global Carbon Price. We randomly assign the subjects to the two treatments and the country they represent. Ten countries/regions participate in the respective MUN conference: Australia, Canada, China, European Union, India, Japan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, USA. See pre-analysis plan (PAP)
Randomization Method Randomization done in office by a computer See pre-analysis plan (PAP)
Randomization Unit individual See pre-analysis plan (PAP)
Planned Number of Clusters Eight groups of 10 participants each at four different locations. At each location one group negotiates according to the rules of the Paris agreement, one group negotiates a carbon price. See pre-analysis plan (PAP)
Planned Number of Observations Eight groups at four different locations. At each location one group negotiates according to the rules of the Paris agreement, one group negotiates a carbon price. See pre-analysis plan (PAP)
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms Eight groups at four different locations. At each location one group negotiates according to the rules of the Paris agreement, one group negotiates a carbon price. See pre-analysis plan (PAP)
Additional Keyword(s) Negotiations, Climate Change, Model United Nations, Experiment, Carbon Pricing Negotiations, Climate Change, Model United Nations, Experiment
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