According to the 2004 United Nations Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, over the past 50 years, humans have changed ecosystems more rapidly and extensively than in any comparable period of time in human history. Moreover, the changes that have been made to ecosystems have contributed to substantial net gains in human well-being and economic development, but these gains have been achieved at growing costs in the form of the degradation of many ecosystem services, increased risks of nonlinear changes, and the exacerbation of poverty for some groups of people.
There is a growing disconnection between human socio-economic activity and the natural systems around us. Many leaders still espouse the notion that environmental measures will hurt the economy, and this mentality serves to reinforce ‘business as usual’ tendencies. Responsibility for the health of natural ecosystems has been lost to the pursuit of unending economic growth. Unfortunately, this trend cannot continue indefinitely, as infinite economic growth within limited natural capacity is impossible. Current generations may enjoy the thrill of irresponsible activity, flying in the face of imminent chaos and danger, but future generations will have to pay the price. Responsibility for the impacts of human-generated waste and destruction is continually being passed to someone else. In this game of hot potato that we are playing with ecosystem services, bio-diversity and global health, future generations will inevitably be left clutching the remains of a planet in peril.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Monday, January 14, 2008
Eco-nomics and Carbon Taxes
I wrote a small piece for the Global Assembly online dialogue, and wanted to share it!
So many ideas, where to begin?? The field of sustainable economics (or Eco-nomics, as I prefer) is so untouched that I see possibilities everywhere.
Today I'd like to describe my version of a Carbon Tax. The words have been heavily used lately in Canada and they sparked an idea. Instead of a downstream carbon emissions tax, why not try an upstream carbon extraction tax??
Understanding the carbon cycle, I've come to realize that normal carbon emmissions are not the problem (you are emitting CO2 right now as you read this, as I am while I write). We are part of the cycle, therefore our emissions are to be expected. The problem is that carbon is being extracted from outside the biophere's system (underground) and is being added to the atmospheric at an accelerating pace, flooding it. The problem isn't CO2 emissions (like you & me, biofules, cows decomposing, etc) the problem is CO2 extraction.
Therefore, I feel that the proper market-based tool for this problem is an extraction tax on carbon. Oil & mining companies would have to pay for the carbon beforehand, assuming that it will eventually be burned. Of course, customers would end up footing the bill (inevitably) with higher prices, but it will make substitutes of petroleum-based products much more competitive!
Moreover, you wouldn't need complicated emissions-reporting evaluations and audits. Every country knows how many fossil fuel resources get extracted every year, down to the barrel. Revenues could be shifted to subsidies for sustainable R&D or to help out those who need it most to find sustainable alternatives.
That's my idea, and I'm sticking to it!
So many ideas, where to begin?? The field of sustainable economics (or Eco-nomics, as I prefer) is so untouched that I see possibilities everywhere.
Today I'd like to describe my version of a Carbon Tax. The words have been heavily used lately in Canada and they sparked an idea. Instead of a downstream carbon emissions tax, why not try an upstream carbon extraction tax??
Understanding the carbon cycle, I've come to realize that normal carbon emmissions are not the problem (you are emitting CO2 right now as you read this, as I am while I write). We are part of the cycle, therefore our emissions are to be expected. The problem is that carbon is being extracted from outside the biophere's system (underground) and is being added to the atmospheric at an accelerating pace, flooding it. The problem isn't CO2 emissions (like you & me, biofules, cows decomposing, etc) the problem is CO2 extraction.
Therefore, I feel that the proper market-based tool for this problem is an extraction tax on carbon. Oil & mining companies would have to pay for the carbon beforehand, assuming that it will eventually be burned. Of course, customers would end up footing the bill (inevitably) with higher prices, but it will make substitutes of petroleum-based products much more competitive!
Moreover, you wouldn't need complicated emissions-reporting evaluations and audits. Every country knows how many fossil fuel resources get extracted every year, down to the barrel. Revenues could be shifted to subsidies for sustainable R&D or to help out those who need it most to find sustainable alternatives.
That's my idea, and I'm sticking to it!
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