Comments on: U.S. Climate Action Partnership: Give Polluters Money To Continue Polluting

By: Wayne Robey

Wayne Robey — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 20:07:57 +0000

While the carbon tax is more straightforward, I think the cap and trade system might still be useful if some changes are made. First, free allowances should only be given to those that would need them based on their past use, should initially be some fraction such as .5 of past use and phased out over a short time such as 5 years. Second, in figuring the cap, offsets should be subtracted from the available allowances. This would permit a fuel user to obtain a honest offset rather than purchasing an allowance but the offset would reduce the number of allowances available so that offsetting activities are encouraged but actual emissions cannot be increased by using ofsets.

By: Jo Ann Duman

Jo Ann Duman — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 19:51:59 +0000

Thank you for getting this info to me. We need to get the word out. It is confusing to hear names of groups that imply one thing and, as you say, have been passed by in the progress toward achieving reductions in actions that contribute to global warming. Also. TNC and NWF are among my favorite groups. I hadn’t heard of the split on this issue. As an economist, I am not in favor of cap and trade schemes because the polluting corporattions and financial markets use them to delay instead of advance pollution reduction, and skim undeserved profits with unethical, if not illegal, practices. Tax and regulate polluters.

By: Frances Chapman

Frances Chapman — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 18:22:25 +0000

I have never been gung-ho cap and trade, but saw it as a first step. Now, after markets in derivatives and credit swaps, it seems the last thing we need as a planet is another market. I would support a carbon tax, or simply a mandate with severe fines for violations.

By: d.s. kiefer

d.s. kiefer — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 22:42:05 +0000

What has happened to the more straightforward, less easy to game CARBON TAX?!? It can and should be instituted directly at the point where the relevant fuel/carbon-containing product enters our economy, with the money collected available both to fund R&D for renewables, retrofitting, and energy efficiency and to subsidize/reimburse the poorest for their energy needs.

By: Diane Heath

Diane Heath — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 02:14:11 +0000

I had thought better of my favorite environmental groups, NRDC, EDF, and The Nature Conservancy. When, now, finally everything is alligned to make huge progress, these are the three groups I would have least expected to “cop out.” If this watered-down emmisions scenario comes to pass, I will need to follow in the footsteps of NWF and withdraw my support of these groups..

By: Allen Taylor

Allen Taylor — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 21:30:40 +0000

Nice writing. You are on my RSS reader now so I can read more from you down the road.

Allen Taylor