Here's a letter addressed to Dr Hansen from a concerned US citizen, Alisha Fowler, with a college degree:
Dear Dr. Hansen, Cap-and-Dividend NOT Worth Fighting For
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'D')ear Dr. James Hansen,
For more than twenty years, your scientific expertise and public statements have helped many (including myself) understand the relationship between human activity and global warming. I felt a sense of urgency as I read your latest testimony to Congress (PDF) regarding the need to curb greenhouse gases and put us on the path to building a clean energy economy. I can only imagine how frustrated you must be by the inability of Congress to pass meaningful and comprehensive energy and climate legislation. As I read your testimony it was clear that you fully grasp the scale of the energy and climate challenge and desire to implement effective solutions that will tackle it head on.
That’s why I felt totally lost when you articulated what you feel is the best way to transform our current energy system. You said, “One hundred percent dividend or fight!”
The Cap-and-Dividend regulatory approach will not spur large-scale investment in new technology fast enough to rise to the challenge.
So, Dr. Hansen, I for one am NOT interested in fighting for a Cap-and-Dividend scheme. On the other hand, an investment-based policy solution with the potential to spark lasting economic prosperity — and not just dividend checks in the mail — IS something I’m ready to fight for.
One thing you are absolutely right about: the 2008 election is critical for the planet and time is short. Let’s make our policies clear, and get them right.
Sincerely,
Alisha Fowler
PeakOil is You
THE Jay Hanson Thread (merged)
Re: James Hansen: Prosecute oil companies, top scientist say
by Graeme » Wed 25 Jun 2008, 01:28:25
There are 3 responses to this letter at the end. If you wish, you can add yours at the "itgettinghotinhere" site or here.
Human history becomes more and more a race between education and catastrophe. H. G. Wells.
Fatih Birol's motto: leave oil before it leaves us.
Fatih Birol's motto: leave oil before it leaves us.
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Graeme - Fusion
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Re: James Hansen: Prosecute oil companies, top scientist say
by Plantagenet » Wed 25 Jun 2008, 01:41:57
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Graeme', '
')
Does anyone have any comments about Markey's bill?
')
Does anyone have any comments about Markey's bill?
The cap and trade system isn't working very well in Europe. The claim was it would reduce CO2 emissions. ----- but in reality the EU countries are almost all failing to meet their Kyoto commitments. All "cap and trade" seems to do is increase taxes on the energy consumer.
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Plantagenet - Expert
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Re: James Hansen: Prosecute oil companies, top scientist say
by Graeme » Wed 25 Jun 2008, 03:16:19
Thanks for your comment. I'm not an expert on the European Emissions Trading Scheme but from what I have been able to discover so far is that you are partly correct.
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'T')he New York Times reports today that after three years the much ballyhooed cap-and-trade system in Europe is not working and that instead of reducing greenhouse gases that carbon dioxide emissions are actually increasing.
Backers of these markets, which involve setting limits on greenhouse gases and then allowing companies to buy and sell emission permits, see the approach as one of the cheapest and most effective ways to control the gases in advanced economies. The presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain have both endorsed the idea.
Yet in Europe, which created the world’s largest greenhouse gas market three years ago, early evidence suggests the whole approach could fail. Carbon dioxide emissions are still rising in many industries, not falling.
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'T')he New York Times reports today that after three years the much ballyhooed cap-and-trade system in Europe is not working and that instead of reducing greenhouse gases that carbon dioxide emissions are actually increasing.
Backers of these markets, which involve setting limits on greenhouse gases and then allowing companies to buy and sell emission permits, see the approach as one of the cheapest and most effective ways to control the gases in advanced economies. The presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain have both endorsed the idea.
Yet in Europe, which created the world’s largest greenhouse gas market three years ago, early evidence suggests the whole approach could fail. Carbon dioxide emissions are still rising in many industries, not falling.
However, this is perhaps because emissions trading has just begun for the first phase (2005 - 2007) where emissions increased
1.9%. There will be a phase 2 (2008 - 2012), and phase 3 - allocations will be centralised by an EU authority during this period.
You are partly correct because this MIT study suggests that the European system is "working well".
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'I')n a bid to control greenhouse gas emissions linked to climate change, the European Union has been operating the world's first system to limit and to trade carbon dioxide. Despite its hasty adoption and somewhat rocky beginning three years ago, the EU "cap-and-trade" system has operated well and has had little or no negative impact on the overall EU economy, according to an MIT analysis.
The MIT results provide both encouragement and guidance to policy makers working to design a carbon dioxide (CO2)-trading scheme for the United States and for the world.
Human history becomes more and more a race between education and catastrophe. H. G. Wells.
Fatih Birol's motto: leave oil before it leaves us.
Fatih Birol's motto: leave oil before it leaves us.
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Graeme - Fusion
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