Carbon Tax.Just when I started to read Chris Brazier's article on aircraft emissions ('To fly or not to fly?', NI 409) came the news that our Australian coalminers are applying for free emissions permits. Unfortunately it seems that emissions trading Emissions trading (or cap and trade) is an administrative approach used to control pollution by providing economic incentives for achieving reductions in the emissions of pollutants. is to be the world's accepted way of tackling global warming global warming, the gradual increase of the temperature of the earth's lower atmosphere as a result of the increase in greenhouse gases since the Industrial Revolution. . There is a much simpler solution--a straight Carbon Tax. It avoids the tenuous tenuous Intensive care adjective Referring to a 'touch-and-go,' uncertain, or otherwise 'iffy' clinical situation connection of doing good things like planting trees, etc to offset (avoid) penalties. How can offsets possibly be efficiently monitored? Any valued? Who pays for the monitoring? A tax is simple and transparent. Consumers will immediately see the costs of polluting pol·lute tr.v. pol·lut·ed, pol·lut·ing, pol·lutes 1. To make unfit for or harmful to living things, especially by the addition of waste matter. See Synonyms at contaminate. 2. and reduce their carbon footprint A carbon footprint is the total amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases emitted over the full life cycle of a product or service. . And this is where it really counts. Alternative sources of energy will become much more competitive. The tax collected can be used to reduce other taxation and/or help fund alternative energy. As for the fossil-fuel industries, they've had more than ample warning and deserve no sympathy. They can either start to phase out their industry or to diversify into alternatives, preferably both. Mal Anderson Coffs Harbour, Australia |
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