Strategic information acquisition and the mitigation of global warming

We consider the strategic role of uncertainty and information acquisition for the mitigation of global warming. Before the countries decide on their contribution to a mitigation of global warming, they may invest in information about the country-specific benefit of reductions of the emissions of greenhouse gases. We show that information acquisition has a substantial strategic value. Countries may prefer not to learn their benefit of climate protection even if information acquisition does not involve a direct cost. This strategic information choice may further decrease the efficiency of the public good provision.