It's one week until election day and I still have more questions than answers. Where does one go to get truly scientific (non-political and non-sensational) answers to questions relating to the environment?
My vote this go around will be based on the environmental issues and which party has the best solutions (real solutions to real issues, not just talk). All the parties seem equally incompetent to handle the other issues; the economy, health care etc. My political leaning has been to the conservative party (more the progressive variety we used to have than the current extremists).
I'm finding it very difficult to understand the environmental issues and proposed solutions. A couple of the things I struggle with:
- carbon tax... What I see proposed, is a tax on fuels which is supposed to raise the costs of the fuels and thereby reduce consumption. These tax would then be given back to the consumers in the form of income tax. This makes absolutely no sense to me. Raise the cost of fuel, give me more income so I can afford to pay the higher cost of the fuel? It seems to me that the oil companies are doing a better job of reducing consumption by simply raising the cost of the fuels with no off-setting increase in ability to purchase.
- alternative energy.. The way I see it, reduced fossil fuel combustion is only a means to slow global warming. The only way to stop global warming is to stop combustion. I have not heard of any political party talking about researching and developing alternate energy sources or promoting the only technology we have today (I know "nuke" wouldn't go over to well in a political speach) that can meet our energy needs without combustion. They do talk about wind and solar but I put those in the stop gap category and not the long term solution. From my perspective, if we have to cover the earth with wind turbines and solar panels we might just as well let it warm up and give it back to the reptiles.
What I need is someone, or some forum, or some web-site, that I can go to, where I can get clear science based discussion on these issues. Can someone explain how a carbon tax (off-set by reduced income tax) is supposed to reduce consumption? Can someone tell me how much of the earths surface would be covered with wind turbines and solar panels to meet the world's energy requirements? Can someone tell me about real alternatives to fuel, wind and solar? HELP!!! Where do I go?
1 Comment
Hello Cornell,
I struggle too, but with different issues. My view about the carbon tax is that its a good thing. I understand how you explain that it doesn't affect the bottom line, but the truth is that we live in a world that thrives on incentives. If oil companies and other industries that burn a lot of carbon now have to pay a tax for their emissions, it means that spending money to reduce or offset those emissions becomes more appealing. I believe that the Liberal plan and its claims to to start off with a $10 per tonne tax, and go up to $40 per tonne in 4 years is just a starting point. I think that carbon dioxide should be tradeable commodity on the spot market and that the price go up and down with supply and demand. For instance, if we are far from reaching our environmental goals, there would be a higher price for polluting, to entice more to do something about it. This might be similar to a cap and trade market, although I haven't really formulated a strong opinion about cap and trade yet. The advantage of the Liberal plan is that folks will receive pretty sizeable tax breaks, and those who choose to pollute (for example folks who choose to use lots of gasoline) will pay extra for it to offset the tax breaks. I think its fair. Its like the tax on cigarettes...cigrarettes are bad for you, well so is pollution. One only has to spend an afternoon in Toronto on a hot sunny day and live the smog!
Alternative energy is key to the future of a sustainable planet. Since you can get power from wind, solar and biomass without any significant carbon dioxide emissions, or none at all, they will not be taxed for pollution, so will have to naturally pay less in taxes.
This only answers a couple of your questions. Good luck!