Carbon Cap and Trade on Research Proposal

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In this author's opinion, a greater than ninety percent probability that humans are involved in global climate change, with the additional concern that irreversible detrimental consequences may result, is sufficient to warrant immediate action in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Within the scientific field an absolute certainty that humans have fueled global warming will never be obtained, no matter how much time is provided for study. It is paramount that action, such as the Cap and Trade Policy, is taken immediately to mitigate the production of greenhouse gases and slow global warming. Failure to take these steps will only exacerbate the deleterious effects of global warming as time progresses.

Many opponents to implementation of emissions restrictions, such as that of the Cap and Trade Policy, have also suggested that alternative energy sources are not sufficiently advanced or effective to meet the energy demands currently provided by fossil fuels. Presently, alternative energies are largely fringe suppliers of global energy (Simon). Solar, wind, bio-fuels, and the like, are not adequately advanced to take the place of fossil fuels on any extensive level (Simon).

Proponents of alternative energies, however, suggest this argument is a non-sequitur because it makes the erroneous assumption that alternative energies would need to entirely replace fossil fuels, whereas in reality, alternative energies need only replace a portion of the energy provided by fossil fuel usage in order to help meet the restrictions of a cap and trade policy (Simon; Wilhelm). Additionally, they state it fails to acknowledge that the emissions restrictions are gradual over many decades and that technological advancements will continue to occur during this time period. For example, the efficiency of solar cells was less than 20% two decades ago and is greater than 40% now (Simon).

It is this author's opinion that it seems likely that in the future, the efficiency and cost of developing new solar technologies will improve and increase their viability as an alternative energy source, especially with the increased incentives provided by emission restrictions.

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This concept should similarly applies to all potential alternative energy sources, including wind energy and bio-fuels, and potential energy sources which may not yet be discovered. It is possible that emissions restrictions may not only reduce our dependence on oil but also provide impetus for the development of new technologies.

Conclusion

The Cap and Trade Policy currently awaiting vote in the United States Senate is an important step in mitigating the environmental damage humans are contributing in the way of global warming. Global warming represents a serious threat to the world environment and the human way of life. The role of human beings in global climate change and global warming is extremely probable, and the prospect of irreparable damage in the form of extinctions, sea level rise, disease spread, and other worldwide contingencies behooves the world, and the United States, to take action against this looming threat. Cap and Trade Policy is a first step in limiting greenhouse gas emissions and has the additional benefit of stimulating the development of alternative energies and reducing dependence on limited oil resources. Any economic impacts that result from emission restrictions will be minimal compared to the economic devastation that would occur as a result of worldwide climate change.

WORKS CITED

Farrar, Amy. Global Warming. Abdo Pub Co, 2007.

Hufbauer, Gary Clyde, Steve Charnovitz, and Jisun Kim. Global Warming and the World Trading System. Peterson Institute, 2009.

Labatt, Sonia, and Rodney R. White. Carbon finance. John Wiley and Sons, 2007.

Metz, Bert, and Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Climate change 2007. Cambridge University Press, 2007.

Simon, Christopher a. Alternative energy.….....

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