Search / 139 posts tagged carbon taxes

Belief in the free market fairy is alive and well in Canada’s universities Climate and Capitalism has frequently argued that “putting a price on carbon” won’t cut greenhouse gases quickly enough, if it has any effect at all.

Government loans awarded to three major US automakers are justified as they need them to meet new environmental regulations, Ford chief executive Alan Mulally said Thursday “This is not about a bailout,” the Ford chief executive told AFP in an interview at the Paris auto show.

This was the case built by BP Chief Scientist, Steve Koonin, at Technology Review’s EmTech conference last week (webcast available here). His case went like this: • If every vehicle in America were electric-powered, and we achieved three times the energy efficiencies in those vehicles than we get today, • It would require 50% more electric power capacity than we are currently producing.

Andrew Weaver. KEEPING OUR COOL: CANADA IN A WARMING WORLD. Viking Canada, Toronto, 2008. reviewed by Ian Angus Few Canadians understand the science of climate change as well as University of Victoria professor Andrew Weaver.

The nuclear industry is asking for big loan guarantees from the federal government, with 17 companies submitting 19 so-called Part I applications to support the construction of 14 nuclear power plants; the companies are asking for $122 billion in guarantees, far exceeding the $18.5 billion made available under the solicitation, according to a statement from the U.S.

The successful auction of 12.5 million permits by 10 U.S. Northeastern states brought the cap-and-trade system to the limelight this week. Although an important first step, RMI co-founder Amory Lovins believes cap-and-trade systems merely skim the surface of what ultimately needs to happen to accelerate reductions in carbon.

In 1991, Norway enacted a punishing carbon tax - $65 per ton of greenhouse gas emitted.  The result?  Carbon emissions have risen 15% since that time.  The country blames the increase on growth but, with gasoline at or near $10 per gallon, it seems no price is too much to pay for personal transportation. 

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed what is believed to be the nation's first bill intended to curb greenhouse gas emissions via improved land-use planning to combat urban sprawl, according to a statement from the governor.

In Canada, all five mainstream political parties are promoting some form of “cap and trade” system to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Their plans differ in timing and scope  — but the real problem is that carbon trading won’t do the job, and makes it harder to develop and implement real solutions.

What's been happening? Afghanistan The U.S. has increased its attacks on Afghanistan. What good does that do? Is it helping anyone really? It is not. All it does is add to pain and suffering. Let us remember that the U.S. Bush administration invaded Afghanistan because Osama bin Laden was said by...