My Climate Bill

So here is my suggestion for a climate bill for the US: Its the very simple cap and trade.

Cap emissions down 20-30% by 2020 (from 2005 levels) by issuing co2-permits on an exchange. Let the utilities trade them on the exchange on daily/monthly basis. As time goes by, start reducing the amount of permits to reduce emissions. Give parts of the proceeds from issuing as tax-cuts or rebates for those families who will be struck the hardest (i.e. in states that have fewer natural renewable energy resources) and subsidize R&D in new and existing renewable technology

Finally use part of the proceeds as part of the financing of a new mega-project; the smart grid: Expanding the current transmission networks to better interconnect states and increase efficiency and trade of power, as well as decrease distances to wind- and solar rich geographic locations.It has been suggested by several sources, that such mega-projects also significantly help to increase economic activity in the long-run (http://tinyurl.com/yf3wfo2)

Its simple, effective, gives incentive for efficiency and renewable energy - and also rewards current industries and states for having planned ahead. How many pages would such a bill be? 100? 200?

Why would anyone disagree with this? (Please tell me)

Why we need Copenhagen

I felt that I had to demonstrate to you what an incredible task it is going to be to ensure that CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere are reduced to 350 ppm.

The International Energy Agency has just released the World Energy Outlook report for 2009 and the graph shows the reference scenario (the projected "business as usual" scenario.) The blue line that curves downward represents the level of emission reductions needed to reach 450 ppm. (not 350 ppm). The line representing the abatement needed to reach 350 ppm would fall off the chart.

This graph clearly tells us what an enormous task that lies ahead. It is absolutely unequivocal that an international, legally binding agreement has to be reached for world energy needs to be reduced in such an extreme manner.

Source: IEA.org, special early excerpt of the World Energy Outlook 2009

To boldly go where no Irony has gone before...

From me to Saudi Arabia: To ask the World for compensation for lost oil-exports in case of a new climate deal, is like demanding someone to pay your medical bills, because you broke your hand while punching them in the face...

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/14/business/energy-environment/14oil.html

Freedom is Sustainable

A Short Introduction to my new Blog Experiment

Welcome to my new blog - a new experiment to see if it will help root out some of my long-lived frustrations about american politics and climate change. My blog will contain ideas and pet peeves and maybe even a few philosophical experiments, albeit my philosophical experience is small.

A little thought on freedom

I wish that Americans would finally decide that the status quo is unsustainable, and that change is needed. I respect the philosophy of capitalism, the "American Dream" and the urge to have the freedom to forge your own destiny, but in reality, freedom does not come without responsibility. One of these responsibilities, I feel, is to face the challenge of climate change - and act.

Freedom is the independence of finite resources - it's the creation of opportunities not the exhaustion of possibilities. Freedom transcends time and thus, freedom must be sustainable. For are We really free if our children are not? Freedom must be sustainable, so not to be a mirage of hopes and dreams, dissolving and disappearing as we march into the growing desert of civilizations' waste. What worth is freedom of choice if we do not make the right choices? We must choose our freedom, and rid ourselves of dependence on finite resources such as oil and coal. Only then are We free.

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I hope you will subscribe to my blog and tune in once in a while! Please comment when you agree or disagree.

Andreas Nicolet