Earlier, I provided an overview of carbon pricing systems, intended to help illustrate the discussion that, I felt, people should be having. Most of what I wrote there still stands, but I’ve been thinking on this a lot lately (especially since I’ve been almost obsessively following the Waxman-Markey bill discussion in the US House) and have realized two things: I left out a critical option, and my earlier support for cap-and-trade has waned. This post is intended to address those points. (more…)
July 17, 2009
April 22, 2009
Carbon Pricing Primer
After a few extended discussions over the past several days, I find myself returning to the “we’re not having the debate we should be having” point — that is, while we continue to scuffle about on energy and climate issues with “should we act?”, we aren’t discussing “how should we act?”. The ultimate goal is to phase out fossil-carbon-based fuels and reduce the levels of atmospheric CO2, but the details of the numerous methods of doing so often elude folk.
Now, there’s a few idealistic, simple solutions that only really apply as utopian visions among lunatics or as straw-man arguments from opponents (even opponents who should know better). These include authoritarian all-out bans and libertarian Invisible Hand Free Market Fairy suggestions, for instance. No one that I know of in the western world is calling for a ban (it just isn’t realistic), and though several wingnuts in the US are seriously calling for deregulation, it isn’t gaining traction. The murkier mixed-market solutions are seriously being discussed (whenever our elected officials get around to it…) but are harder for lay folk to understand and thus easy prey for spin.
Consider this a very, very brief introduction to the three major mixed-market carbon pricing systems. It’s not very in-depth, nor is it referencing any particular bill — this is just an introduction. See below the fold.
DeSmog, the BC carbon tax, and biases
So my friend Ian at Terahertz has some choice words aimed at DeSmogBlog over political bias. For what it’s worth, if you know me personally, then you probably know I share many of Ian’s viewpoints; he’s just much more outspoken than I am (not to mention less shy), and usually ends up speaking for me. However, since I’ve had a history with DeSmog, I’m weighing in.
This started out as a comment on that post, but it grew overlong and overlinked, so it migrated here. Check below the fold for background info and details. (more…)