A lecture on climate change by Belgium-based academic Henry Tulkens at Imperial College London this week was full of algebraic equations. He was explaining "how games theory, in support of good economics" could help analyse the international climate negeotiations.

For the equations, you'll have to contact him at the Center for Operations Research and Econometric. But you might be interested in his conclusion about the Kyoto Protocol, which he said at the outset could be seen as a step in the direction of an efficient world system.

He pointed out that, whatever the criticisms, the Protocol had maintained 189 member countries which had ratified it, with only the US missing. ("Is Canada defecting? Not yet.").

He listed the "accord, arrangement and package"  that had followed Kyoto, which he described as "a sequence of protocols with its long commitment period and during which some form of worldwide cooperation should prevail", and concluded: "There is an internal logic in that itinerary, namely a persistent drive towards efficiency and stability".

So, no reason to give up hope yet.

 

 

 

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