ZEW Presents Research Results at the 2013 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Warsaw

Researchers of the ZEW Research Department "Environmental and Resource Economics" presented the results of recent projects at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Warsaw. The conference took place from 11 to 22 November and featured a number of side events running parallel to the negotiations. Side events provide a platform for researchers to discuss scientific and position papers on environmental and climate-related issues with colleagues, negotiators and representatives of the civil society, for example NGOs.

ZEW environmental economist Prof. Andreas Löschel presented results of the ENTRACTE research project in the EU pavilion. ENTRACTE is funded under the EU Framework Programme for Research and is coordinated by ZEW. The objective of the project is to develop recommendations for stimulating the effectiveness and efficiency of the European climate policy. Together with renowned partner institutions from various European countries, ZEW researchers address the reciprocal effects of different policy instruments in the ENTRACTE project (more information about the project at www.entracte-project.eu).

At a joint event with the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), the Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change (MCC) and the “Harvard Project on Climate Agreements” at Harvard University’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Prof.  Andreas Löschel, who is also a lead author of the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), presented the results of the project “The Significance of Fairness Principles for Successful Cooperation – An Analysis of Choice and Impacts of Distribution Rules in International Climate Negotiations”. This project was financed by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).

Löschel particularly addressed the acceptance of different rules for burden-sharing by the key players in international climate negotiations. His analysis is based on a global survey among the participants of past UN climate conferences. The findings reflect the contrary positions the most important players have taken in negotiations on a global climate agreement. However, the results also suggest that negotiations on combined rules for burden-sharing can prevent deadlock.

For further information please contact:

Prof. Dr. Andreas Löschel, Phone: +49(0)621/1235-200, E-mail loeschel@zew.de

Martin Kesternich, Phone +49(0)621/1235-337, E-mail kesternich@zew.de