 | | | | |
| | | | | |
| | Excerpt from: EHS Compliance Management
| | | July 03, 2008 | | Carbon trading may not get us to where we need to be... | Americas Climate Security Act, aka the Boxer-Lieberman-Warner bill, recently died after it failed to get the 60 votes necessary to pass. The bill specified carbon dioxide regulations (cap on emissions) and a system of carbon trading for U.S. companies.
In an interesting and thought provoking article (published June 19..see link below), Joseph Romm from the Center for American Progress, makes the case that the development and deployment of clean technologies is the only way we can reduce green house gas emissions significantly. What could happen if we dont? Romm says, "The extinction of most species, the desertification of one-third of the planet, and a return to temperatures not seen since the Earth was ice-free." This of course, wouldn't happen for some time - but its a scary enough assertion to make you stand up and take notice. The message? We're on a perilous path, and we''re doing it to ourselves.
He goes on to say that carbon trading in Europe isn't really working because they are still building coal-fired plants in Italy, Great Britain, The Czech Republic and Germany. This is a great point - how will this development serve the bigger picture? Not too well.
What we really need - and I agree - is a prohibition on new traditional coal-fired plants and the use of low-carbon technologies for all new power development. What else will get us there? Smart strategies for technology deployment, the wide use of environmental software, tax credits, loan guarantees or other incentives for low-carbon technology, a low carbon fuel standard, higher fuel economy in automobiles, and other aggressive strategies.
Will these things cost time and money? Yes. Is it the right thing to do for future generations? Yes. It's time we put together an achievable, but aggressive plan of action. We then need to execute it with a fervor unprecendented in human history.
| | |
|
|
| | Because of the financial implications of carbon going on the balance sheet, every affected organization must be able to measure its CO2 emissions. |
|
|
