Peter Barnes - Should the U.S. Pursue Carbon "Supply Caps?"

Complete video at: http://fora.tv/2008/03/12/How_to_Fight_Climate_Change_Economically

Author and entrepreneur Peter Barnes argues in favor of federal carbon supply caps to help control U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.

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How to Fight Climate Change Without Soaking the Middle Class featuring author and entrepreneur Peter Barnes.

Fighting climate change is going to cost all of us money. That's because the price of dumping carbon into the atmosphere must necessarily rise, says Barnes. A policy that soaks the middle class won't last longer than a few election cycles. He explores the possible solutions to this vexing political and environmental conundrum - The Commonwealth Club of California

Peter Barnes is the co-founder and former president of Working Assets Long Distance. In 1995, he was named Socially Responsible Entrepreneur of the Year for Northern California. He is the author of Who Owns the Sky? and Pawns: The Plight of the Citizen-Soldier, and has written for Newsweek, The New Republic, the New York Times, and many other publications.

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[gtrtech13]

Not in the UK all we have is a pathetic government composed of con men jumping on the green global warming bandwagon to knock up fuel prices and add to other tax burdens by idiotic policies and laws which do nothing.

They have gone mad on wind farms which are no where near as efficient in energy production as is required, yet offer no other ideas.

personally i think its a global con trick using ever propaganda trick in the book to ensure that they who have get more and the poor less

[gtrtech13]

Surely to heaven one answer is to utilise the power of the Sun in more and more applications and if done on a global scale the costs of solar panels and equipment would be reduced and accessible to even the poorest.

I have seen solar panels used in Africa to power fridges to keep medications safe extend the idea right across the board and there is part of the solution.

[gtrtech13]

if anyone really beleives that the people will benefit on Americas past record of greed and corruption within the military industiral complex they must be very naiive. The word Trust is something both US and UK governments abuse and mean nothing.

[Bpeverna]

I can recommend "Who owns the Sky" by Peter Barnes if you would like to hear more about it.

[Bpeverna]

This gentleman has considered that, near the end he mentions his Sky Trust.

The main objective of the Sky Trust is to awards the property rights of polluting the sky (at a level not doing unreversable damage to our planet) to the people.

Meaning the profits of the Sky Trust will not go to the government, but to each person individually.

For the poor and the lower middle class the earnings from the Sky Trust will be bigger than the rise in prices because of the Sky Trust.

[viewerone1]

Isn't this enacted already in europe?

[Cr8zyCanuck]

Obviously supply cap would devastate the economy is if we do it right away. Over time however, as hybrids and electric cars become more prevalent then we'll be ok. And most lower class/working class folk don't have cars and take the bus, so start thinking logically. Just because you can't drive your hummers and mustangs doesn't mean it's a bad policy. Try thinking outside your own convenience for once people.

[HarryNRubin]

More government control! NO THANKS!

[cozmikzen]

imallabout getting rid of combustable enginesaltogether. but unlesswe can replace them, thisplan will just drive up the price, change nothing, andplummet the world into more poverty.

[culverapex]

Has this gentleman considered the impact a supply cap would have on the middle class and poor? Millions would suffer, if not die, as a result of the spike in cost for all fuels. I'm not a wacko-corpratist, and for that reason the human element is far to important to ignore. I don't know of a global solution, but I do know that what ever changes are made must transition our economy from carbon-heavy to 'clean'er fuels, and we need to make sure that those fules can be made in excess of demand.