tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16594468.post7710034498434604978..comments2023-10-24T04:29:23.693-06:00Comments on Atheist Ethicist: Emissions TradingAlonzo Fyfehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05687777216426347054noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16594468.post-7778037825004198542007-07-26T11:56:00.000-06:002007-07-26T11:56:00.000-06:00martinMany cap and trade systems do allow individu...<B>martin</B><BR/><BR/>Many cap and trade systems do allow individuals or groups to buy permits - and then simply not use them. In other words, they are open to everybody.<BR/><BR/>This is an optional provision, and a provision that I would support in any cap and trade system. Attempts to keep people out of the market is an attempt to outlaw the expression of certain preferences in the free market.Alonzo Fyfehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05687777216426347054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16594468.post-82601784097436074752007-07-26T08:35:00.000-06:002007-07-26T08:35:00.000-06:00One of the biggest problems with cap & trade syste...One of the biggest problems with cap & trade systems is that they are not truly open markets. If I am an environmental group and I wish to purchase the rights to 1,000 units of pollution so that I can retire them permanently, I am not allowed to do so. So yes, Cap & Trades are a good idea, but they don't go far enough. The market needs to be open to everyone, not just industry.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16594468.post-17424306751251532007-07-26T00:47:00.000-06:002007-07-26T00:47:00.000-06:00Alonzo, I have been enjoying this series of posts,...Alonzo, <BR/><BR/>I have been enjoying this series of posts, particularly the manner in which you have progressed from moral objectives (reducing externalities) to solutions (such as emissions trading). I am curious as to how far you can take us towards a truly international solution. <BR/><BR/>If I understand you correctly, the pigovian tax on emissions will increase the price of the energy and products we consume. How can those pigovian tax funds realistically be directed to <I>everyone</I> who was and will be impoverished by the emissions generated in the production and use of the energy and products? The US government (or in my case the Canadian government) will collect a sum of money. Between our two nations, we have about 5% of the world’s population but we are impoverishing 100% of the world’s population with our emissions. Ninety five percent of the funds should be distributed outside of North America. (Of course, some of the funds collected in other nations will be directed to us so the actual dollars sent abroad will be reduced). <BR/><BR/>If GHG reducing technology existed then that would eliminate some of the need to transfer funds from high consumption richer economies to lower consumption poorer economies. <BR/><BR/>Do I have it right?Psycholshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14979824582570452278noreply@blogger.com