The Political History of Cap and Trade
This is an excellent article by the Smithsonian.com about the history of the Cap and Trade policy that was enacted under Bush Sr. to reduce the release of sulfur dioxide and the production of Acid Rain along the Eastern Seaboard and Eastern Canada. This policy was a landmark one because it was the first time that regulation (and federal oversight) was DE-emphasized and then effectively eliminated in favor of the free-market “regulating” itself. When it was first proposed the individuals who thought it up were almost laughed out of Washington, but 20+ years later the results speak for themselves.
Now think about the possibilities of this policy (or one remarkably similar) being expanded under the current Administration as a method to reduce the emissions of CO2 today. Personally, I think that by removing some of the “unnecessary” Red Tape that currently exists in our governmental system could only make the current situation of airborne emissions simpler and possibly even allow solutions to develop in a shorter timeframe than otherwise!
Radical, but could it really work?
I find this very interesting and really hopeful. Most people in the world are somewhat aware that the amount of CO2 in our atomosphere is a “bad” number. The human population emits more CO2 than they realize and while I’m aware of the fact that it is extremely harmful and bad for the enviroment I’m not educated enough to say that this is an easy fix and tell what that fix is. I don’t think that a lot of people are. The fact that we can reduce the amont of sulfur dioxide in the air is a huge step forward. The possiblities of reducing the CO2 in the air is now much closer than I think people would have otherwise realized.
I had heard a little of the cap-and-trade situation but had never know as much as i do now. It is really great that our country found a way around politics to create a both environmentally supported and economic plan to reduce acid rain. If we could apply that to other fossil fuels like oil, which running out fast as you can see through the price inflation, it would put everyone’s mind at ease for a while. This could really be the step we need to get our earth on the path it needs to be. I don’t if having so many “cap-and-trade” programs would be as successful as having a few for the more important things though.
I think its great that our government actually cares about our environment being “green” and healthy enough to try to regulate and decrease the amount of sulfur dioxide being produced and the amount of acid rain that is present in our environment. I also think its awesome that they are trying and are making progress in reducing the amount of carbon dioxide that is being produced by people in our environment. I agree with Alex because people really don’t realize how much carbon dioxide we produce just doing the things we do every day. It’s great that the government is doing something to reduce the amount.
It is a step in the right direction, for the environment to be stepping in, in order to ensure a safe environment. Being “green” is not as hard as many think it is, and I think that the government is doing the right thing in trying to get the public to realize that.
It makes all the difference for the better of the environment with something like cap and trade. And I do think that, in general, government regulations are vital to making strides in the effort to go “green”. However, with acid rain’s visible effects, it seemed like it had to be done for the sake of the people. Carbon dioxide’s effects are less easily visible, making people question the validity of stronger government regulation. Plus, the article said the cost is unknown to carryout an even more advanced policy. I agree with the policy, but I’m not sure that less informed people are sold on regulation without as tangible evidence.
I have never heard of the cap and trade suggestion. Frankly, I agree with it very much in the sense that it be a necessity to reduce the amount of CO2 in the air. Acid rain is also bad for the environment. Acid rain reduces our amount of trees in the environment and it eventually kills marine animals in the ocean. This in turn kills parts of the food chain if too many of one population is killed off in the ocean. But, back to Carbon dioxide being harmful for the future of the environment. People like anyone else don’t ever realize the damage being produced everyday to our atmosphere by Carbon dioxide. In the long run if the problem of carbon dioxide keeps polluting the earths environment, then climate changes will occur causing harm to different organisms.
I also have never heard about the cap and trade situation, and am actually shocked to see that the government cares about the government and is willing to make an effort to make it more sustainable. Like Alex said this is a huge step forward for our environment by reducing the amount of sulfur dioxide in the air, and leading to possibilities of reducing CO2 in the air and acid rain as well. Both of these are considered to be very dangerous to the environment and the more we can reduce the better.
Along with many of the other people who have commented, I had never heard about he cap and trade situation. It seems like it somehow flew under the public radar. Its interesting, and shocking to discover that the government did something to help the environment. This makes me wonder what other things have been implemented by the government. Or what other things could be implemented by the government if these situations were given the right attention. When there are so many great ideas here in America the environmental situation is not as much of a challenge, these people just need the support of both the public and the government to get things accomplished. Like the “individuals who thought it up were almost laughed out of Washington, but 20+ years later the results speak for themselves.”
Haley I agree with you. I find it very curious that the government did actually do something helpful in this regard and it too makes me wonder what else is either going on and how people’s attention to the current issues would likely change if the government was to get involved.
The reduction of CO2 emissions can definitely work especially if the government creates new laws and restrictions. CO2, as we learned in class, contributes to the greenhouse effect. The CO2 in our atmosphere holds in the heat and raises the global temperature. With CO2 emissions still on the rise, we’re coming to the point where it’s really getting out of hand and the government needs to get involved.
i think the government can make a huge impact in this issue. making certain laws and regualtions about what people can and cant do to eliminate certain CO2 emissions can definatly work. this idea is pretty radical but i think it can be done.
I agree with Jacksons statement that said the environment is better off with a policy like cap and trade. The government has to play a role in the envrionments saftey and the saftey of the people the govern. We have to reduce the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere because like Alex said, it is currently at a bad number. We have to work off of policies like cap and trade to help improve and better the envrionment.
I think this idea is a realistic solution to deminishing emmision of CO2. I think cap and trade will work slowly, but it has the potential to push companies to go green and prevent CO2 emmision.
I had never heard of cap and trade but it’s nice to know the government cares. It’d be great if the government put restrictions on CO2 emissions because they’re a big problem. Hopefully if the ball really gets rolling on this, we have government workers who will actually follow through and not just give up if they dont have enough supporters. This is a really important issue that needs to be attended to.
Cap and trade should be a policy that stays within the government forever. The less amount of CO2 emmited into the air the better. The rate at wich our o zone layer and atmoshpere are at is scary. Could too much CO2 mean a rise in the earth’s temperature? The government needs to step in and enforce this policy
This idea would work along as they focus on emissions produced by cars, since they are responsible for the larges amounts of CO2 released to the atmosphere. By creating regulations that push for more ecofriendly cars to be built a large amount of CO2 emissions would be prevented.
Finally something can be done about Co2 emmsions. I think that it really needed some governmetn involvment, otherwise nothing would have happened. If nothing is to be done about C02, then I think that humanity has a serious problem on its hands.
When I read this article I thought it was very interesting that the government did do something helpful in this regard. This makes me ask myself, if the government were to get more involved in the environment would other people follow them. Would other people think twice before endangering the environment?
cameron is right our environment is screwed if we dont do something fast. the sooner the better. after a while it will get to a point where we literally can not do anything to save our environment. the government needs to get involved. if the government were to get involved i think that people would take it more seriously and do something.