What is a Emissions Trading Scheme and what does it do?
Ok so I’ve heard all about this Emissions Trading Scheme to slow the effects of global warming.
But what the hell is it? Do the countries really trade anything?
I know you must be rolling your eyes saying "what a dumb ass", but what the we need these days is to understand what the future holds and understand what we’re supporting.
just imagine: allow each country a certain amount or quantity of emissions. if ths amount is
exceeded there will be consequences, fines, etc.
industrial and developed countries produce more emissons than they may have, whilst un or
underdeveloped countries produce less than their allowance.
"smart" idea of big business is to buy undeveloped countries excess emission allowance in
order to have more for developed industrial countries - consequence: no fines for developed
countries.
in other words, emission trading will let us continue to produce pollution and emissons as we
like.
come to your own conclusion what to think of that.
just imagine: allow each country a certain amount or quantity of emissions. if ths amount is
exceeded there will be consequences, fines, etc.
industrial and developed countries produce more emissons than they may have, whilst un or
underdeveloped countries produce less than their allowance.
"smart" idea of big business is to buy undeveloped countries excess emission allowance in
order to have more for developed industrial countries - consequence: no fines for developed
countries.
in other words, emission trading will let us continue to produce pollution and emissons as we
like.
come to your own conclusion what to think of that.
References :
reality
It is a distribution of wealth to the UN for a non existent problem and the end of democracy in the Western nations. It is Communism in disguise
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091230184221.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaNcQ4Wj7bQ&feature=PlayList&p=4874B5A951DA8DA4&index=0&playnext=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMe5dOgbu40
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=adEgGRWjmUdA
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20100103/NEWS/1030352/-1/SiteMap/Feeling-cold?-We-re-at-30-below-normal
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jan/03/peru-mountain-farmers-winter-cold
http://www.theage.com.au/world/siberian-winds-usher-in-record-lows-in-beijing-20100103-lna6.html
References :
Industrial facilities get a quota or "cap" for how much CO2 they can emit.
If someone can reduce CO2 cheaply, they reduce it below their quota and sell the excess reduction to someone for whom it would be very expensive to reduce CO2.
So, a country gets down to its’ limit for CO2 in the cheapest possible way.
It’s a proven system. It was used for acid rain in the 1970s, and worked well.
Note that some people try to sell "carbon credits" to individuals. That’s not only inefficient, but can easily be a scam. The system works for large companies, for individuals it doesn’t.
EDIT - Meadow, below, is entirely correct that Europe’s implementation of this has had serious problems. I’m not sure how what they’re doing differs from the successful system that was used for acid rain.
References :
There’s an article on it’s effectiveness in the Guardian newspaper and a link to the Friends of the Earth report. It’s hasn’t been successful so far, but they say they will change it soon.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/nov/05/friends-of-the-earth-attacks-carbon-trading
"An FoE report says ‘cap and trade’ carbon markets have done little to reduce emissions but have been plagued by corruption and inefficiency"
Also this article here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/feb/23/glover-carbon-market-pollution
"Europe’s system to edge up the cost of emissions and boost green energy has backfired. There isn’t much time to rescue it
‘Roll up for the great pollution fire sale, the ultimate chance to wreck the climate on the cheap. You sir, over there, from the power company - look at this lovely tonne of freshly made, sulphur-rich carbon dioxide. Last summer it cost an eyewatering €31 to throw up your smokestack, but in our give-away global recession sale, that’s been slashed to a crazy €8.20. Dump plans for the wind turbine! Compare our offer with costly solar energy! At this low, low price you can’t afford not to burn coal!"
Set up to price pollution out of existence, carbon trading is pricing it back in. Europe’s carbon markets are in collapse"
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References :