Based on the article you were given in class on Friday, what are your thoughts on the cap and trade system? What do you think about the possibility of Oregon not waiting for the federal government?
You must post no later than Tuesday night 11:59 p.m.
For Your Convenience
25 comments:
As with any major program, there are both significant pros and cons in this situation. The “cap-and-trade” system has its flaws-- it allows companies mindless to their impact on the environment not confront this impact and buy off “credits” from more conscious businesses—however, the main focus should be on the eco-advancements that this program would force many businesses to take. If Oregon were to take the lead in implementing this program, there could be temporary economic fatalities, moving once-successful Oregon businesses to other, unregulated states. However, if Oregon were to lead in environmental business practices and the program’s successes were recognized and implemented as a nationwide program, it would make Oregon a social leader and result in huge economic (and moral) achievement. Of course, some businesses would merely react to the cap and trade system by outsourcing in unregulated, cheap-labor nations; but for the most part, if an emissions cap was enforces, it could result in great environmental improvement.
The cap-and-trade system sounds extremely beneficial to the world not just the U.S. or Oregon. If Oregon were to start a cap-and-trade system before the rest of the U.S. than it would give Oregon the upperhand not only in carbon trading, but, also, in alternitive, non-polluting, energies. Oregon should start a cap-and-trade system before the U.S. makes it a national requirement.
The cap-and-trade system is a controversial system that can make or break an economy. In today's society, people tend to favor comfort instead of something that can benefit more people. By cutting down Carbon emissions using the idea of credits for each Carbon-producing business and having a steadily-lowered cap on emissions, it is more likely that less environmental harm will come because less pollution will have been spit out in the air.
If Oregon were to use the cap-and-trade system, it would affect the state negatively because local businesses that produce a lot of Carbon emissiosn will outsource to other states that do not have the system in place. This loophole is a way for companies to get around the law just so that they can make more profits. However, if Oregon adopts the system, and the National Government puts it in place as a requirement for all states, Oregon will be a national leader, a forerunner that will have tested the system before its inception as a national requirement. This will give Oregon better PR for the system and will give other states a guide to follow when they adopt the revised system.
I believe the cap and trade system has definite potential, and if nothing else, it would be a great system. The system is one that is flexible--for the businesses that produce little, they can sell their "credits" to other businesses and produce a lot--enabling most people to go about how they always would (because you can always buy credits from others to meet your needs). Also, this would be a good start to something better. This cap and trade system could be a way to ease into a possible system that cuts back even more. Therefore, I support the idea of Oregon jumping the gun. If Oregon went ahead and imposed such regulations, we would be one step ahead of everyone else on the way to cleaning up our state--for present and future purposes. This would also allow us to search for the next step to cutting back once the cap and trade system was made perfectly successful.
I think the cap and trade system works well but it should be more strict on the rules. I think it gives to much room for polluting companies because it allows companies to still pollute. This system is definitely going in the right direction but I think there is still a lot of work to do because this system only limits pollution by a little bit. I think we must focus on getting rid of pollution altogether or greatly cut the amount of it. We could do this by making certain laws to get rid of laws and make pollution illegal. Although this is extreme I think with some work we can do it.
I think that Oregon will end up doing the cap and trade before government does it. To me, the idea of Oregon not waiting makes sense because if we always wait nothing will get done.
I think the cap and trade is a good way to get started on reversing the high pollution production from companies. It won't do TOO much to fix the issues at hand but it will start to get people in the right mind set of reducing pollution and becoming environmentally friendly.
It'd be a good idea for Oregon to be proactive about this matter and not wait for the federal government. We've always been ahead of the curve environmentally here so why not continue that tradition now?
I believe that the cap and trade pros outweight the cons. People will notice that business' are being environmentally conscious. even though some business will move it will promote being nice to the environment and eventually there will be no bad emissions in oregon and the rest of the nation will follow the west coast.
The cap and trade system in concept is great. The implementation, however, is questionable. There are definate ups and downs to the system. I do think the environmental impact is emmense, and it is worth trying. If Oregon were to begin the process of transitioning into caps and trade, I believe many other states would begin to follow our lead. Additionally, we could act as a "guinea pig" to work possible issues out. The national government may be more interesting in using it if they sawe positive impacts resulting from it. We must be trend setters.
I think the cap and trade system would help lead the U.S. into a better system of alternative energies and lowering our use of fossil fuels, since currently we cannot just make one huge switch to completely using alternative energies. The cap and trade system would also cause awareness of our dependence on fossil fuels to increase, as our whole system would change causing the producers of these fuels and us as consumers to find out more about this system. People choose what company they get their electricity from, and if the cap and trade system is implemented, there will probably be satisfaction among both the consumers and the producers. Another benefit of Oregon using the cap and trade system would be that we would have it before many other states, so money would flow in from other parts of the country and world. I think it would be good if we started using the cap and trade system before the rest of the U.S. because it would benefit our economy, which is already suffering, and our system would be specific for our needs.
I find that the cap-and-trade system is a very valuable tool in the movement toward “green.” Although it is a very beneficial system it is not perfect and has some flaws that, personally, I would like to change. It sets a cap on the maximum amount of pollution which a company produces. But, it also allows the companies who already pollute a lot, to pollute above the maximum by buying “carbon credits” from other companies who don’t pollute above their max. I don’t like the “trade” part of the cap-and-trade system because it was only added because people whined and complained enough to get people to add it in. If there were no trade the green companies could truly be called green and wouldn’t sell out their business for someone else. If Oregon were to take the initiative and move forward with a system of our own here we would set an example for our federal cap-and-trade system. At the same time we risk making companies leave the state so they can continue with their polluting ways.. Oregon should go ahead with the implementation of our system and set the standard.
I think that the concept of the cap and trade system is a good idea but i really don't think it will help much with cutting down on the amount of pollution produced by companies. I think that it can get people to start thinking environmentaly and that is definately a good thing, but at the same time i don't think it will help cut down on the amount of pollution produced.
While I believe that a cap and trade system is something every state should jump on as soon as possible, but whether or not Oregon should jump on first remains the question. This type of system is best started by the federal government, which would force all the states to adopt the policy at the same time. If Oregon was indeed the first to start the cap and trade system, big business would outsource to other states, taking valuable jobs and revenue with it. In this economy, economic decisions such as this are dangerous. While this system has the potential to do so much good for the environment by leaving things open to legislatiors to slowly lower the total allowances and credits of emissions further and further, the main variable is the business end. I do not know how expensive it would be for a company to close up a plant and move to another state. I assume it is costly, but are the "big boys" going to stay in the state if such a system were implemented? And what about the smaller businesses? When things are tough right now, what are the chances that the cap and trade system would force them out of business?
But this is only looking at things in the short run. Society needs to realize that businesses change on a daily basis. New ones start and old ones die. This is a market economy after all. If you can't adapt, you can't live. We may believe we are all important, but emissions need to be controlled to keep the air healthy, along with our lungs and environment.
The only solution to protect the environment is to start the cap and trade system in Oregon slowly. I support this completely, it just needs to be introduced slowly. The legislator cannot just shove this giant demand on businesses or the big companies will leave. If they (the big businesses) are convinced that the cap and trade will only be small, then maybe they will accept it. All of this needs to happen gradually. Yes the emission level should be reduced over time, but we need to start slow, just like you nature evolves. Slowly over time.
The cap and trade system seems like a good fit for Oregon, which is why it might be a good idea to set out the fronteir as opposed to waiting for the feds. However, it could easily create, at least in the shortrun, an economic drawback. Not only would it cost more to jumpstart, but many businesses would resort to sending jobs out of oregon, and eventually out of the country. Businesses are there to make money. Also, with the green movement popping right now, Oregonians might be more prone to support those companies which are trading their unused energy, eventually righting the economic downfall.
In the cap and trade system, I really like the idea of a “cap” but I am not so fond of the “trade.” Creating a maximum amount of pollution that a company can produce is a wonderful idea, and I think that it is completely silly that this hasn’t been implemented before. I understand that doing this will hurt company’s economical positions, but really, is a company’s happiness more important than the ENVIRONMENT? I think that the idea of buying/trading carbon credits from companies with low amounts of pollution to companies with higher amounts of pollution is completely silly. It hardly cuts back on the pollution, because the companies that buy the credits are just going to be creating the pollution that they shouldn’t be with a cap. Despite all of this, I think that cap and trade system is better than nothing. At least it is moving in the right direction towards a greener environment. I think that the idea of limiting the amount of pollution is fantastic, but tacking on the trade part cancels out some of the benefits of the cap. I also think it is important that Oregon takes the initiative and implements this into our system, because although it isn’t perfect it is better than nothing.
I am happy that there is something being done about the amount of pollution emitted by big industry, however I think this is only one step of the solution. This cap and trade system seems to me to be a very indirect way to face the problems with our current energy sources. I understand that by making carbon emissions more expensive the idea is that industry will use less, thus opening a window for alternative energy to jump in. Basically creating a demand for alternative energies. But I would like to hear about the increased focus on the research and development aspect of creating cost effective, and competitive energy sources, as well as environmentally sustainable. So I think this cap and trade system is one piece of the puzzle. It creates the demand for alternative energy, but now policies need to be implemented to lead to the creation of mainstream alternative energy.
Do I think it would be good for Oregon to begin before the federal mandate? Sure, if that's the best idea on the table right now, why wait? I think Oregon would be a good place to start something like that, kind of like a test trial to see how it works. And also Oregon has the reputation of being "green" both visually and consciously, so it may do even better here than other places. I say this because businesses may be more excited, or at least willing, to do it, giving it more effort and getting more results. I only hope.
Although the Cap and Trade system is not a perfect solution, it is a start. Too often, environmental groups spend too long searching for that magical cure to all forms of pollution and environmental degradation. Not only does this solution not exist, people would not accept any drastic change that did come along. Moving in slower increments towards a sustainable future takes longer and puts more strain on the world, but allows people a neccessary chance to adjust to any new style of living. The cap and trade system has proven effective in Europe and allows enough wiggle room to appease many heavy pollution oriented businesses. Of course there will be immediate side effects, and they wont all be good. But a change takes time, and the cap and trade system will eventually stabilize. If Oregon takes the initative on this program, its appeal will skyrocket in other states. Oregon has been a leader in much of the US environmental movement, and can continue to be a good influence on the rest of the country by adopting the cap and trade system.
In my opinion, the cap and trade system proposed for our area is a very good idea. Though it may not have the perfectly ideal result of zero emissions, it is clearly a step in the right direction. If we were to set a cap that was decreased every year, we could really make a noticable difference in our output of pollution. The issues that are presented by this system are few. I do not believe that it would effect local businesses in any negative way. In fact, it could be the opposite. If companies start to get their energy from green sources, the prices will fall. Also, they will be able to make even more profit by selling their unused carbon credits. If Oregon were to start this program before the rest of the nation, we would serve as an excellent example and incentive to impliment the program across the country.
ii D0n'T THiiNK THAT ITzz A Go0d iiDEA CUZ THA COMPANEEz WiiLL STiiLL BEe ALLoWED 2 pOLLuTE CUZ THEY CAN TRADE CaRBON CREDiiTz, AND ii DON"T THiiNK THAT POLLUTiiON WOULD EVEN BE DECREASED THAT MucHo, CUZ THa BiiG COMPANEEZ WiiLL JUST BuY CREDiiTZ. *~`*>NATHAN<*~`~*
XXoxXOXOoxoxoXO
I agree with the cap and trade system, and think almost anyone else, other than Nathan, would also agree that it's a good start. The real issue is whether or not states should take the initiative with cap & trade systems on their own, or wait for the federal government to begin one. Cap & Trade systems have proven themselves to be effective in other countries, so even if it's not the optimal end, it's the first step in reaching that optimal end. For that reason, I think it's best for states to go ahead and begin cap and trade systems in pursuing the eventual goal of less carbon emissions.
I believe that the cap and trade system was created with good intentions. It allows businesses to have a little more freedom while being responsible for either, reducing thier own emissions, or buying carbon credits from others. However, this can scare businesses away from staying in the system and moving somewhere else to avoid the problem. No matter what happens, it's going to be a rocky start when it is first established, like any other fundamental law or measure. Oregon, in my opinion, should allow this system to be created in order discover the major pros and cons that surround the system. This way, we will have some sort of sense before we even consider using a cap and trade system federally.
Overall, someone needs to establish the cap and trade system on a small scale before we take it to a big one, Oregon seems well suited for that position.
The current cap and trade system definitely has its pros and cons. I could be great in that, if the plan is followed, we could slowly bring down our emissions all together. It also makes those who are emitting excess pollutions more aware of thier actions, making them pay more if they wants to continue those practices. However, that is also part of the downfall of the system. Those who are polluting over the "capped" amount, can just buy others points and continue to harm the environment. And though it all does even out eventually, isn't it just better to mend the environment, emit less pollution, and NOT have to pay for the extra points?
There are also pros anc cons for Oregon beginning this process before the rest of the nation. For instance, if not taken well in our economy, it may drive out many of our businesses to other states. Yet, if it is successful, hopefully then our nation would recognize its positive effect and adopt the program too. In all, I do think the cap and trade system is beneficial.
My overall thoughts on the cap and trade system is that it is a good idea but economically speaking it has a lot of drawbacks. The good viewpoints are obviously that it reduces CO2 emissions and lowers the long term effects of global warming. It is also an alternative source of energy. The economic drawbacks would be raised taxes, the difficulty of even distribution, and society getting on the "cap and trade" system alone will takea while.
Overall I think that Oregon shouldn't wait for the federal government to get on the cap and trade system.
I think that it would be beneficial for Oregon because it's stated that the states caps are much lower, so there is more trading opportunity. Companies can have awards and incentive programs to support this system. Some companies may choose to move to other states which could be a drawback. However I think that it'd be more beneficial for Oregon to take charge in this situation because if the plan is refined and is a success that will be greatly acknowledged.
What is the best way to tackle carbon dioxide emissions? For as long there have been people around concerned about carbon dioxide emissions, that question has been asked. Over time, a consensus has emerged regarding two solutions. One is a tax on carbon emissions, and the other is a cap-and-trade system. Each system has its proponents and its detractors, and there are those who believe that there is no problem. Now, for our purposes, we will assume that we are in agreement that the current situation is untenable. Therefore, that leaves us with cap-and-trade, or carbon tax. Recently, Oregon under Senate Bill (SB) 80 is considering joining a regional coalition of Western states – the Western Climate Initiative, that wish to set up a just such a system. The proposal has attracted quite a lot of controversy, with some business groups, and groups that see themselves as defenders of the economy, opposing the measure. On top of that, PGE and PacificCorp, two large regional utility companies, have publicly announced their opposition. The arguments presented by such groups are threefold, although no group has used every single argument simultaneously. First, the economic price of instituting a cap-and-trade system far outweighs the benefits. Secondly, Oregon should wait for the federal government to institute such a program. Finally, there are those who state that other programs are preferable to a cap-and-trade system. We will address all three points and analyze the validity of the arguments.
As for the first argument, it should be noted that calculating GDP losses due to imposing such a system, ignore the cost of damages to the environment due to carbon dioxide emissions. In addition, a cap-and-trade system will spur the development of new technologies. Therefore, even if some jobs are lost, others will be created. To qualify the prior statement, it should be noted that it is not even certain that there will be any job losses, as there is very little scholarly data on the issue, that is not heavily biased. Therefore, this point is not valid.
The second argument is that Oregon shouldn't push ahead with such a system, since the federal government will have a system in place very soon, and to do so will create a patchwork that will be difficult to untangle later. While it is true that a patchwork system rarely functions efficiently, we must honestly analyze the above statement. To the best of my knowledge, the federal government does not have a concrete bill in either branch of Congress to enact such a system, that is widely supported. Now I may be mistaken, and if I am, I apologize, but from the standpoint of an objective analysis of Congress, it is highly unlikely that any such regulations will be passed in the near future. Now, if Oregon and other Western states were to form such a system, they could then lobby Congress that it is only equitable to extend such a system to all the states. Now, this may not work, and then Oregon may lose some jobs, as employers outsource to other states. However, even if that does, Oregon is obliged to work for the common good, which in this case means that we may have to make some sacrifices. Therefore, while the second argument is valid, it's scope is quite narrow, and we can safely ignore it.
The third argument is that since cap-and-trade is not a perfect solution, and there are better solutions out there, we should focus instead on those solutions. There is truth in a part of this argument. Cap-and-trade is far from an ideal solution. There are other ideas like a gas tax closer to the level found in Europe, instituting a carbon tax, or other measures. I will be the first to confess that a cap-and-trade system is not my first choice. Nevertheless, since it is being proposed, I believe we should support it. As Theodore Roosevelt once said, “Do what you can, where you are, with what you have.” This is what we have, and we must make the best of it. Therefore, while cap and trade will not solve all our problems, now is the time to embrace it.
Cap and trade, a system that forces companies to get creative and inventive about their energy sources, at least that is the intention. If Oregon were to join the western climate initiative, this would make Oregon look like the vanguard for the cap-and-trade system. Therefore, I believe that cap-and-trade is a system not without flaws, but a system more focused on long-term benefits and the environment, which many will have an ambivalent (at best) attitude towards if it means cutting much needed jobs. But, as lax and nonchalant we are about pollution, it is a much bigger deal than we give credit for, and something must be done that takes into account both the economy and environment, the ladder would be most desirable. Either way, cap-and-trade is a must...for the time being.
Post a Comment