Cap and trade won't work
Cap and Fade
At the international climate talks in Copenhagen, President Obama is expected to announce that the United States wants to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to about 17 percent below 2005 levels by 2020 and 83 percent by 2050. But at the heart of his plan is cap and trade, a market-based approach that has been widely praised but does little to slow global warming or reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. It merely allows polluters and Wall Street traders to fleece the public out of billions of dollars.
Supporters of cap and trade point to the 1990 Clean Air Act amendments that capped sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions from coal-burning power plants — the main pollutants in acid rain — at levels below what they were in 1980. This legislation allowed power plants that reduced emissions to levels below the cap to sell the credit for these excess reductions to other utilities whose emissions were too high, thus giving plant owners a financial incentive to cut back their pollution. Sulfur emissions have been reduced by 43 percent in the two decades since. Great success? Hardly.
Because cap and trade is enforced through the selling and trading of permits, it actually perpetuates the pollution it is supposed to eliminate. If every polluter’s emissions fell below the incrementally lowered cap, then the price of pollution credits would collapse and the economic rationale to keep reducing pollution would disappear.
Worse yet, polluters’ lobbyists ensured that the clean air amendments allowed existing power plants to be “grandfathered,” avoiding many pollution regulations. These old plants would soon be retired anyway, the utilities claimed. That’s hardly been the case: Two-thirds of today’s coal-fired power plants were constructed before 1975.
Cap and trade also did little to improve public health. Coal emissions are still significant contributing factors in four of the five leading causes of mortality in the United States — and mercury, arsenic and various coal pollutants also cause birth defects, asthma and other ailments.
Yet cap-and-trade schemes are still being pursued in Copenhagen and Washington. (Though I head the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies, I’m speaking only for myself.)
To compound matters, the Congressional carbon cap would also encourage “offsets” — alternatives to emission reductions, like planting trees on degraded land or avoiding deforestation in Brazil. Caps would be raised by the offset amount, even if such offsets are imaginary or unverifiable. Stopping deforestation in one area does not reduce demand for lumber or food-growing land, so deforestation simply moves elsewhere.
Once again, lobbyists are providing the real leadership on climate change legislation. Under the proposed law, some permits to pollute would be handed out free; and much of the money actually collected from permits would be used to pay for boondoggles like “clean coal” research. The House and Senate energy bills would only assure continued coal use, making it implausible that carbon dioxide emissions would decline sharply.
If that isn’t bad enough, Wall Street is poised to make billions of dollars in the “trade” part of cap-and-trade. The market for trading permits to emit carbon appears likely to be loosely regulated, to be open to speculators and to include derivatives. All the profits of this pollution trading system would be extracted from the public via increased energy prices.
There is a better alternative, one that would be more efficient and less costly than cap and trade: “fee and dividend.” Under this approach, a gradually rising carbon fee would be collected at the mine or port of entry for each fossil fuel (coal, oil and gas). The fee would be uniform, a certain number of dollars per ton of carbon dioxide in the fuel. The public would not directly pay any fee, but the price of goods would rise in proportion to how much carbon-emitting fuel is used in their production.
All of the collected fees would then be distributed to the public. Prudent people would use their dividend wisely, adjusting their lifestyle, choice of vehicle and so on. Those who do better than average in choosing less-polluting goods would receive more in the dividend than they pay in added costs.
For example, when the fee reached $115 per ton of carbon dioxide it would add $1 per gallon to the price of gasoline and 5 to 6 cents per kilowatt-hour to the price of electricity. Given the amount of oil, gas and coal used in the United States in 2007, that carbon fee would yield about $600 billion per year. The resulting dividend for each adult American would be as much as $3,000 per year. As the fee rose, tipping points would be reached at which various carbon-free energies and carbon-saving technologies would become cheaper than fossil fuels plus their fees. As time goes on, fossil fuel use would collapse.
Still need more convincing? Consider the perverse effect cap and trade has on altruistic actions. Say you decide to buy a small, high-efficiency car. That reduces your emissions, but not your country’s. Instead it allows somebody else to buy a bigger S.U.V. — because the total emissions are set by the cap.
In a fee-and-dividend system, every action to reduce emissions — and to keep reducing emissions — would be rewarded. Indeed, knowing that you were saving money by buying a small car might inspire your neighbor to follow suit. Popular demand for efficient vehicles could drive gas guzzlers off the market. Such snowballing effects could speed us toward a pollution-free world.
The plans in Copenhagen and Washington have not been finalized. It is not too late to trade cap and trade for an approach that actually works.
3 stars
Protecting the ozone layer is a responsibility of every people. Whoever you are wherever you are we should contribute in making our world safe to live in. We should not just put the burden on the government. We must also act now it's never too late. Antioch Ca Homes For Sale | Hayward Ca Homes For Sale | Concord Ca Homes For Sale | Oakland Ca Homes For sale | Alameda Ca Homes For sale | Mountain View Ca Homes For sale | Pleasanton Ca Homes For sale | Stockton Ca Homes For sale | San Ramon Ca Homes For sale | Palo Alto Ca Homes For sale | Merced Ca Homes For sale | Modesto Ca Homes For sale | Elk Grove Ca Homes For sale | Daly City Ca Homes For sale | Redwood City Ca Homes For sale | Roseville Ca Homes For sale | Sacramento Ca Homes For sale | Salinas Ca Homes For sale | Antioch Ca Foreclosures | Hayward Ca Foreclosures | Concord Ca Foreclosures | Oakland Ca Foreclosures | Alameda Ca Foreclosures | Mountain View Ca Foreclosures | Pleasanton Ca Foreclosures | Stockton Ca Foreclosures | San Ramon Ca Foreclosures | Palo Alto Ca Foreclosures | Merced Ca Foreclosures | Modesto Ca Foreclosures | Elk Grove Ca Foreclosures | Daly City Ca Foreclosures | Redwood City Ca Foreclosures | Roseville Ca Foreclosures | Sacramento Ca Foreclosures | Salinas Ca Foreclosures |
Protecting the ozone layer is a responsibility of every people. Whoever you are wherever you are we should contribute in making our world safe to live in. We should not just put the burden on the government. We must also act now it's never too late. Antioch Ca Homes For Sale | Hayward Ca Homes For Sale | Concord Ca Homes For Sale | Oakland Ca Homes For sale | Alameda Ca Homes For sale | Mountain View Ca Homes For sale | Pleasanton Ca Homes For sale | Stockton Ca Homes For sale | San Ramon Ca Homes For sale | Palo Alto Ca Homes For sale | Merced Ca Homes For sale | Modesto Ca Homes For sale | Elk Grove Ca Homes For sale | Daly City Ca Homes For sale | Redwood City Ca Homes For sale | Roseville Ca Homes For sale | Sacramento Ca Homes For sale | Salinas Ca Homes For sale | Antioch Ca Foreclosures | Hayward Ca Foreclosures | Concord Ca Foreclosures | Oakland Ca Foreclosures | Alameda Ca Foreclosures | Mountain View Ca Foreclosures | Pleasanton Ca Foreclosures | Stockton Ca Foreclosures | San Ramon Ca Foreclosures | Palo Alto Ca Foreclosures | Merced Ca Foreclosures | Modesto Ca Foreclosures | Elk Grove Ca Foreclosures | Daly City Ca Foreclosures | Redwood City Ca Foreclosures | Roseville Ca Foreclosures | Sacramento Ca Foreclosures | Salinas Ca Foreclosures |
Cap and trade also did little to improve public health. Coal emissions are still significant contributing factors in four of the five leading causes of mortality in the United States — and mercury, arsenic and various coal pollutants also cause birth defects, asthma and other ailments This is true. Lancaster Ca Homes for Sale | Irvine Ca Homes for Sale | Glendale Ca Homes for Sale | Burbank Ca Homes for Sale | Fremont Ca Homes for Sale | Moreno Valley Ca Homes for Sale | Los Angeles Ca Homes for Sale | Torrance Ca Homes for Sale | Santa Ana Ca Homes for Sale | San Clemente Ca Homes for Sale | Pasadena Ca Homes for Sale | Newport Beach Ca Homes for Sale | Long Beach Ca Homes for Sale | Berkeley Ca Homes for Sale | | | | | Lancaster Ca Foreclosures | Irvine Ca Foreclosures | Glendale Ca Foreclosures | Burbank Ca Foreclosures | Fremont Ca Foreclosures | Moreno Valley Ca Foreclosures | Los Angeles Ca Foreclosures | Torrance Ca Foreclosures | Santa Ana Ca Foreclosures | San Clemente Ca Foreclosures | Pasadena Ca Foreclosures | Newport Beach Ca Foreclosures | Long Beach Ca Foreclosures | Berkeley Ca Foreclosures | | | | |
Father Angelo's efforts to address the human toll of the AIDS pandemic in Africa began 14 years ago in the slums of Nairobi, setting up a orphanage to take in and care for parent-less children. Then two years ago, he conceived of the idea of a model village in which children could grow and some semblance of the family unit could be preserved. investigation course AND music course AND online music course
It has planted some 400 acres of Jatropha Curcas trees and is in negotiations with the Kenyan government for more. Even the human waste -- both liquid and fecal -- are collected and eventually turned into fertilizer and safe, composted humus. music fundamentals course AND performing arts course
All 5 cities analyzed experienced drops in Median Home Prices. The drops are more in line with ones faced by Sacramento market. Unlike Sacramento Ca Homes For Sale Market where some cities actually gained in Median Price change (as compared to last year November 2008) Stockton faced county wide drops with no gains for any city. The change in Home Prices ranged anywhere from -2.27% for Stockton Ca Homes For Sale to -14.35% for Lathrop Ca Homes For Sale. The middle section comprised of Manteca Ca Homes For Sale (-13.51%), Tracy Ca Homes For Sale (-6.51%), and Lodi Homes (-6.49%) Antioch Ca Foreclosures | Home For Sale 3.5% FHA Home For Sale | Hayward Ca Foreclosures 100% VA Concord Ca Foreclosures | Oakland Ca Foreclosures Zero Down USDA Alameda Ca Foreclosures | Mountain View Ca Foreclosures Half Percent Down Pleasanton Ca Foreclosures | Stockton Ca Foreclosures 203 K FHA San Ramon Ca Foreclosures | Palo Alto Ca Foreclosures Conventional Loans Merced Ca Foreclosures | Modesto Ca Foreclosures Jumbo Loans Elk Grove Ca Foreclosures | Daly City Ca Foreclosures City Down Payment Redwood City Ca Foreclosures | Roseville Ca Foreclosures 2yr BK Discharge OK Sacramento Ca Foreclosures | Mortgage Calculator <620 FICO with No 12 mo lates Mortgage Calculator | Salinas Ca Foreclosures 620+ FICO Ok San Mateo Ca Foreclosures | Santa Clara Ca Foreclosures 6% Seller Credit OK Santa Rosa Ca Foreclosures | Sunnyvale Ca Foreclosures 30 Yr Fixed Napa Ca Foreclosures | Walnut Creek Ca Foreclosures 15 Yr Fixed San Bernardino Ca Foreclosures | Temecula Ca Foreclosures 20 Yr Fixed Santa Monica Ca Foreclosures | Rancho Cucamonga Ca Foreclosures 5 Yr Adjustable Riverside Ca Foreclosures | Vallejo Ca Foreclosures 7 Yr Adjustable Tracy Ca Foreclosures | Corona Ca Foreclosures 10 Yr Adjustable
A well deserved article to read. Thanks on posting this kind of article. Let us help in our private capacity to save our mother earth.
A well deserved article to read. Keep on posting this kind of informative post. Let us help our government in our private capacity on saving our mother earth. Homes For Sale | Houses For Sale | 3.5% FHA | Realtor | Homes For Sale | 100% VA | Mortgages | Mortgage Rates | Zero Down USDA | Richmond Home | Richmond Homes For Sale | Half Percent Down | Pasadena Homes | Orange Houses | 203 K FHA | Hayward Home | Newark Homes For Sale | Conventional Loans | Santa Barbara Homes | Sacramento House | Jumbo Loans | Chino Homes | Fairfield Homes For Sale | City Down Payment | Riverside Realtors | San Bernardino Home | 2yr BK Discharge OK | Irvine Realtors | Alamo House | <620 FICO with No 12 mo lates | Marysville Real Estate | Highland Homes For Sale | 620+ FICO Ok | Cherryland House | Hawthorne Real Estate | 6% Seller Credit OK | Greenfield Real Estate | Costa Mesa Homes For Sale | 30 Yr Fixed | Lafayette House | California City Homes | 15 Yr Fixed | Westminster Realtors | Victorville Real Estate | 20 Yr Fixed | Carlsbad Houses | Madera Acres Real Estate | 5 Yr Adjustable | Davis House | Seaside Houses | 7 Yr Adjustable | San Ramon Home | Westlake Village Real Estate | 10 Yr Adjustable
five fingers vibram,vibram,vibram five fingers,vibram,vibram five fingers discount,five fingers,five fingers,five fingers vibram,vibram five,vibram,five fingers,vibram five,vibram five fingers Bikila,vibram five fingers running,Vibram Five Fingers Classic,vibrams five finger shoes,Vibram Five Fingers Flow,vibram finger five,Vibram Five Fingers KSO,vibrams five fingers,vibram five finers,buy vibram five,vibram five fingers,vibram five fingers sale,vibram five fingers classic,vibram five fingers flow,vibram five fingers kso,buy vibram five fingers,vibram five fingers size,vibram five fingers shoes,vibram five fingers women,new vibram five fingers,five fingers vibram,vibram shoes,vibram shoe,vibram fivefinger,vibram kso,fivefingers kso,vibram five fingers running shoe,running in vibram five fingers,vibram five finger toe shoes,vibram five fingers women's,vibram five fingers barefoot shoes,buy vibram five finger shoes,vibram five fingers KSO Trek,vibram five fingered,to buy vibram five,buy vibram five,Vibram FiveFingers MOC Black,vibram five fingers Performa,vibram five fingers hiking,vibram five finger running,vibram five fingers sizing,vibram five fingers Performa Jane,vibram five fingers mens,vibram five fingers dealers,vibram five fingers womens,Vibram Five Fingers Sprint,vibram five fingers for sale,vibram five fingers store,vibram five fingers fitting,cheap vibram five fingers,vibram five fingers surge,vibram five fingers kso black,vibram five fingers discount,vibram five fingers reviews,vibram five fingers shoe,the vibram five fingers,vibram five fingers ebay,vibram five finger running,vibram five fingers hiking,vibram five fingers Bikila,vibram five fingers Performa,vibram five fingers Performa Jane,Vibram Five Fingers Sprint,vibram five fingers classic,vibram five fingers flow,Vibram Five Fingers Sprint. 151616
We offer ghd straighteners worldwide.You can get them with high quality but at low price from our store.ghd straighteners cheap will give you a big surprise.We sale various styles ghd hair straighteners and the most popular ones are the ghd purple and ghd precious, p90x and insanity workout.They are the perfect hair straighteners which you should not miss.In addition, we have numerous other ghd series.I'm sure you will get a perfect ghd hair straighteners which macthes with your taste. For most people ghd straighteners cheap is a god-given chance. In addtion, if you pay a little attention to ghd straighteners you will find that ghd loved by many celebraties who appear on the fashion magazines with new hair styles created by the hair straighteners.You may say why it is must be ghd straighteners? You know ghd is a famous brand in hair salon field. If you are lucky enough, you will find ghd straighteners cheap which is at a lower price but with the same good quality.
We offer ghd straighteners worldwide.You can get them with high quality but at low price from our store.ghd straighteners cheap will give you a big surprise.We sale various styles ghd hair straighteners and the most popular ones are the ghd purple and ghd precious, p90x and insanity workout.They are the perfect hair straighteners which you should not miss.In addition, we have numerous other ghd series.I'm sure you will get a perfect ghd hair straighteners which macthes with your taste. For most people ghd straighteners cheap is a god-given chance. In addtion, if you pay a little attention to ghd straighteners you will find that ghd loved by many celebraties who appear on the fashion magazines with new hair styles created by the hair straighteners.You may say why it is must be ghd straighteners? You know ghd is a famous brand in hair salon field. If you are lucky enough, you will find ghd straighteners cheap which is at a lower price but with the same good quality.
We offer ghd straighteners worldwide.You can get them with high quality but at low price from our store.ghd straighteners cheap will give you a big surprise.We sale various styles ghd hair straighteners and the most popular ones are the ghd purple and ghd precious, p90x and insanity workout.They are the perfect hair straighteners which you should not miss.In addition, we have numerous other ghd series.I'm sure you will get a perfect ghd hair straighteners which macthes with your taste. For most people ghd straighteners cheap is a god-given chance. In addtion, if you pay a little attention to ghd straighteners you will find that ghd loved by many celebraties who appear on the fashion magazines with new hair styles created by the hair straighteners.You may say why it is must be ghd straighteners? You know ghd is a famous brand in hair salon field. If you are lucky enough, you will find ghd straighteners cheap which is at a lower price but with the same good quality.
cheap uggs puma outlet louis vuitton discount basketball shoes air force 1 ed hardy on sale nike outlet ugg sale basketball shoes burberry louis vuitton outlet ed hardy pumps shoes nike shoes armani ugg boot armani outlet nike air force Burberry outlet ugg boots pumps outlet puma shoes