I've been reading about Kyoto2 recently, and I'm not sure C&C is the way
forward - it doesn't account for embedded energy - all those Chinese
beavering away to make consumer junk for the West have the emissions
involved counted towards *their* budget, which is obviously unfair.
I wonder if a scheme involving auctioning of emission rights to energy
corporations, with the proceeds going to an international body like the
UN, would be better. They could then use the revenue to help the
majority world develop along a zero carbon pathway, putting money into
R&D, renewables etc. And we could do away with all those loopholes in
Kyoto, like the CDM, which are supposed to finance this development of
renewables there, but have hardly made any difference and which are
effectively preventing the setting of a real cap, the most important
think we need now.
I know that C&C is supposed to finance this, but the trouble is, payment
for emission rights goes to governments, and I think the UN would be
better, since so many governments are corrupt, and even if they aren't,
they are under so much pressure to cut taxes there will be a great
temptation for them to use payments they get for emission rights to fund
general government expenditure, rather than low carbon, or zero carbon,
development.
But I might be wrong. What are people's views on this?
Chris
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