Carbon Crime

Generally, I'm a pretty big fan of cap and trade schemes as the best way to avoid as much climate disruption as we possibly can. I've got great faith in markets as effective mechanisms for efficiently dealing with complexity. I also this a market-based solution is a better than a carbon tax in terms of engaging a broader range of people (particularly in the taxophobic US) in positive conversations about what we can and must do.

One of the common arguments in favor of a carbon tax over cap and trade is that the latter is too complicated and confusing and open to abuse. Well, this story certainly supports that position:

http://channels.isp.netscape.com/celebrity/story.jsp?idq=/ff/story/0001/20090821/1144449878.htm

It's about a scheme in Europe to profit from VAT taxes associated with carbon credits. As we've seen with the meltdown, sometimes being too efficient can lead to collapse - and the need for some very inefficient rescue measures (stimulus spending, increased regulation and enforcement) not to mention the more important non-financial suffering being endured by so many losing their houses and jobs as a result.

Don't get me wrong, I still think free-market based capitalism is the worst system, except for all the others... full of great opportunities for improvement - but given the demonstrated level of civility in the debates in the US Congress, I am more and more coming around to thinking a simple simple simple tax shift - increase a carbon tax, decrease income tax, net result is zero (except that we encourage hiring and discourage wasteful energy use).

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the HIVE - sept 4th opening

The hottest new scene on Cape Ann has a couple of exciting events lined-up for next week.

First up: Green Drinks ... Weds. Sept 2nd (7-9 pm): our first venture out of the local bars and into an art space. Come hang out, talk about what ever sustainability issues are on your mind, meet some like-minded folks, and help plan our Cape Ann event for the International Day of Climate Action on Oct. 24th to raise awareness on the need for a target of 350 ppm.

And don't miss the second opening of the HIVE on Friday, Sept 4th (7-10 pm):

Start the last weekend of summer off with a wicked bang! Come check out all the new work from the rapidly expanding Hive members, the original crew and the recycled aquatic creations of Jon Conant- Everlution Forms. Tasty treats and beverages provided by Cape Ann Brewing. Come By and feel free to bring friends.


























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Earth Days

Just caught the trailer of a new movie on the history of the modern environmental movement - looks pretty awesome, I can't wait to check it out at the Cape Ann Community Cinema when it makes it to Gloucester in Oct. Check out the trailer here:

www.earthdaysmovie.com



























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Karl-Henrik Robert - from cancer research to strategic sustainable development

A quick clip from Karl-Henrik, going through his story of moving from cancer research upstream into strategic sustainable development leadership... about how and why people work together and help each other when they know life is on the line:



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A New Sound - the green collar economy

Cool new video from Green for All:



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Death to Gross Domestic Product

A well articulated opinion piece in the NY Times the other day - very exciting to see this kind of opinion making its way into the mainstream press. It underscores the huge opportunity to change patterns of thought that this global economic crisis presents:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/10/opinion/10zencey.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1


(thanks to ACUPCC twitter account for the link! - we're off to Chicago this week for the annual summit, where we've just announced Bill Clinton will be keynoting - along with other greats like Janine Benyus, Peter Senge, Rick Fedrizzi, and more! Great chance to bring some press and attention to the sustainability work the higher education sector is doing)

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Climate disruption and national security

With the backdrop of the UN parties gear up for pre-Copenhagen talks in Bonn this week, the New York Times ran a great piece yesterday about the threat to national security and peace that climate disruption represents.

A to-the-point quote:

“We will pay for this one way or another,” Gen. Anthony C. Zinni, a retired Marine and the former head of the Central Command, wrote recently in a report he prepared as a member of a military advisory board on energy and climate at CNA, a private group that does research for the Navy. “We will pay to reduce greenhouse gas emissions today, and we’ll have to take an economic hit of some kind.

“Or we will pay the price later in military terms,” he warned. “And that will involve human lives.”

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