The Demand for Global and Local Environmental Protection: Experimental Evidence from Climate Change Mitigation in Beijing

Abstract

In this study, participants from Beijing, China, were offered the opportunity to contribute to voluntary climate change mitigation by purchasing permits from two Chinese CO₂ emissions trading schemes (ETS). Since CO₂ emissions abatement is linked to other local benefits like the reduction in emissions of air pollutants, our aim is to separate the demand for local and global environmental protection. To this end, Beijing and Shenzhen ETS permits were offered. Our results indicate that a substantial part of the revealed demand for voluntary climate change mitigation in Beijing is driven by concerns for local co-benefits of CO₂ emissions reduction.