<![CDATA[Grist - Comment Feed for Brits consider radical plan to measure personal emissions]]> Grist Comment Feed en Comment #1 by kyotousa http://www.grist.org/article/wendling-carboncards/ Wed, 10 Aug 2005 05:24:09 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/wendling-carboncards/1 Brits personal emissions plan

The scope and quality of the ideas that are being proposed to reduce our production of greenhouse gases (GHG) is heartening. While the US federal government continues to drag its feet on climate change, it seems that much of civil society around the world (and yes, even in the US), is starting to take action. The idea of an individual "cap and trade" program for personal GHG emissions, while complex, is not unlike the incentive programs that many water and electricity utilities currently offer to customers who reduce their consumption.

The article generated an idea that might be more quickly implemented. Suppose we aggregated GHG emissions into a defined unit, such as a city, whose GHG emissions could be based upon city govenment operations, business and institutional activity, and population size.

Grants could be made available to cities during the start up phase to assist them in conducting their GHG inventories, outreach and education activities, and business development plans.

To encourage local activities that would reduce the city's overall GHG emissions, meaningful incentives from the state or federal governments would be provided only to those cities who reduced their GHG emissions. The "penalty" for cities that failed to reduce their GHG emissions would be the loss of access to the incentives.

Many cities in the US are already voluntarily engaged in efforts to reduce their GHG emissions (see, ICLEI http://www.iclei.org/index.php?id=1118 and Mayor Greg Nickels' Climate Protection Agreement http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/mayor/climate/). Not only are these cities responding to their concerns about global warming, many are already beginnig to understand that it makes financial sense, too. Reductions in energy consumption and waste production and investments in renewable energy are money in the bank - or the assurance that vital city services can be maintained when city budgets are squeezed.

Officials in many US cities, however, fail to recognize their city's role in global warming, even though the majority of the US GHG production occurs within our cities. And when asked to act on their city's contribution to the problem, city officials often state their belief that resolution of the issue falls to the federal government. If we can offer our cities the financial incentives to become cleaner and greener, we may be pleasantly surprised at the wilingness of cities and their inhabitants to act collectively to address this growing threat.

]]> Brits personal emissions plan

The scope and quality of the ideas that are being proposed to reduce our production of greenhouse gases (GHG) is heartening. While the US federal government continues to drag its feet on climate change, it seems that much of civil society around the world (and yes, even in the US), is starting to take action. The idea of an individual "cap and trade" program for personal GHG emissions, while complex, is not unlike the incentive programs that many water and electricity utilities currently offer to customers who reduce their consumption.

The article generated an idea that might be more quickly implemented. Suppose we aggregated GHG emissions into a defined unit, such as a city, whose GHG emissions could be based upon city govenment operations, business and institutional activity, and population size.

Grants could be made available to cities during the start up phase to assist them in conducting their GHG inventories, outreach and education activities, and business development plans.

To encourage local activities that would reduce the city's overall GHG emissions, meaningful incentives from the state or federal governments would be provided only to those cities who reduced their GHG emissions. The "penalty" for cities that failed to reduce their GHG emissions would be the loss of access to the incentives.

Many cities in the US are already voluntarily engaged in efforts to reduce their GHG emissions (see, ICLEI http://www.iclei.org/index.php?id=1118 and Mayor Greg Nickels' Climate Protection Agreement http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/mayor/climate/). Not only are these cities responding to their concerns about global warming, many are already beginnig to understand that it makes financial sense, too. Reductions in energy consumption and waste production and investments in renewable energy are money in the bank - or the assurance that vital city services can be maintained when city budgets are squeezed.

Officials in many US cities, however, fail to recognize their city's role in global warming, even though the majority of the US GHG production occurs within our cities. And when asked to act on their city's contribution to the problem, city officials often state their belief that resolution of the issue falls to the federal government. If we can offer our cities the financial incentives to become cleaner and greener, we may be pleasantly surprised at the wilingness of cities and their inhabitants to act collectively to address this growing threat.

]]> Comment #2 by MikeCapone http://www.grist.org/article/wendling-carboncards/ Thu, 06 Oct 2005 04:05:50 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/wendling-carboncards/2 Treehugger.com

I just want to point out that I've linked to this story from Treehugger:

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2005/10/carbon_debit_ca.php

]]> Treehugger.com

I just want to point out that I've linked to this story from Treehugger:

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2005/10/carbon_debit_ca.php

]]> Comment #3 by Kiki Blitz http://www.grist.org/article/wendling-carboncards/ Mon, 24 Sep 2007 20:35:15 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/wendling-carboncards/3 Personal carbon credits already exist

Personal Carbon Credits already exist on a UK based site called GoCarbonFree.com. Its a bit different though because businesses pay for carbon credits that are "packaged" with their products.


I think it is a good first step because Personal carbon credits remind people that every action has an environmental impact. If this voluntary system was paired with a government imposed carbon tax, revenue would be generated for green technology development and CDM projects in countries like India, Africa, and China. The more vibrant this green economy is, the better it is for our planet.


Big businesses are striving for greener brand images, so its good to let them use their economical power to find greener solutions. I think business and government need to take the lead in creating a carbon conscious economy. The public want to be carbon neutral, now government and business have to make these options accessible. Once these values are materialized, green behavior will fallow.


In an interview with Sir John Houghton, the former co-chairman of the IPCC talks about the green wave in consumerism in an interview with GoCarbonFree.com, and says "I have often thought the taxation route is the simplest method to reach emissions targets. However, perhaps we need more than one route forward and a combination of a cap and trade and taxation would be best."


 Personal Carbon Credits use a cap and trade system, but act as a tax to businesses. Consumers can demand that there purchases be offset by the retailers and use their purchasing power to reduce Co2. On a large scale the reduction of Co2 could be enormous.


Personal Carbon Credits already exist at GoCarbonFree.com. The site uses 50% earnings towards buying Gold Standard Eligible carbon credits, and the shareholders do not take any dividends.






]]> Personal carbon credits already exist

Personal Carbon Credits already exist on a UK based site called GoCarbonFree.com. Its a bit different though because businesses pay for carbon credits that are "packaged" with their products.


I think it is a good first step because Personal carbon credits remind people that every action has an environmental impact. If this voluntary system was paired with a government imposed carbon tax, revenue would be generated for green technology development and CDM projects in countries like India, Africa, and China. The more vibrant this green economy is, the better it is for our planet.


Big businesses are striving for greener brand images, so its good to let them use their economical power to find greener solutions. I think business and government need to take the lead in creating a carbon conscious economy. The public want to be carbon neutral, now government and business have to make these options accessible. Once these values are materialized, green behavior will fallow.


In an interview with Sir John Houghton, the former co-chairman of the IPCC talks about the green wave in consumerism in an interview with GoCarbonFree.com, and says "I have often thought the taxation route is the simplest method to reach emissions targets. However, perhaps we need more than one route forward and a combination of a cap and trade and taxation would be best."


 Personal Carbon Credits use a cap and trade system, but act as a tax to businesses. Consumers can demand that there purchases be offset by the retailers and use their purchasing power to reduce Co2. On a large scale the reduction of Co2 could be enormous.


Personal Carbon Credits already exist at GoCarbonFree.com. The site uses 50% earnings towards buying Gold Standard Eligible carbon credits, and the shareholders do not take any dividends.






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