When it comes to the relatively small Polish economy the EU may be able to bribe Poland into accepting the terms but that would set a precedent that the EU could not afford to pay as these climate changes measures are pushed on the developing world.

Roger,

You have done a lot of research on making policy in the face of scientific uncertainity but have you looked how different individuals and/or countries have different levels of risk tolerance and how the same information would led to different conclusions based on their level of risk tolerance?

For example, the risk of injury while driving a motor cycle is easy to calculate. However, some people will look at the data and refuse to ride a motor cycle, others will only do so with full leathers and a helmet and yet others will ride in jeans and a t-shirt. All very different decisions based on the same data.

I think these differences could play out at the national level where countries with a high degree of risk tolerance (e.g. the US) are going to be less likely to support action on GW even if they do not dispute the science or the data.

Why not? What harm comes to Europe if there climate policy is abandoned or dramatically reduced? Economically they will be better off without the additional burdens. Will they lose prestige on the global scene? Who could cast a stone with everyone else living in a glass (green) house? They can always make scapegoats of Poland (and the US) and move on.

On the flip side…what exactly does Europe gain if they pass their proposed climate policy? Bragging rights? I am not trying to be flippant. I just don’t understand what they will win or lose.