Heated Negotiations

by Dan Jacoby

The People's Republic of China has walked out on negotiations to lower the amount of greenhouse gases we are pouring into the atmosphere. China is on pace to lead the world in the production of greenhouse gases in the near future; getting them to lower this production is crucial to our future. Their refusal to negotiate is a serious blow.

But who can blame them?

Seriously, when the world's current leader in greenhouse gas production refuses to take any measures to reduce its production, why should anyone else make the sacrifice? The U.S. delegation walked out on the talks too; it was only natural that the Chinese would follow us out the door.

Once again, George W. Bush has donned his blinders to avoid seeing the evidence that surrounds him. The disappearing Arctic ice cover, the phenomenal rise in average temperature in Alaska and northern Canada, the slowing of the Gulf Stream - all these climate changes were predicted years ago, and every one of them is happening now. Yet George W. Bush doesn't seem to notice.

Nobody in the current administration is pushing for the kind of changes that would not only reduce the production of greenhouse gases and slow the progress of global warming, but also result in huge savings for American consumers and a significant lowering of our trade deficit. Nobody in this supposedly business-friendly group seems to care that these changes would be good for American business.

That's right, "good for American business."

Lowering our production of greenhouse gases means creating and refining new technologies. We need to find better ways to tap into renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, and water. We need to make ethanol production significantly cheaper, in both cost and energy input. And we need to develop methods for using energy far more efficiently.

As these technologies are developed, the cost of energy will go down, saving American businesses (and American consumers) lots of money. In addition, we would be able to export these technologies, creating even greater profits.

Of course, it will take several years to create these technologies, and the research and development costs will be high, but the long-term profit picture is tremendous.

The short-term costs could be paid for by the most tried-and-true method around, a combination of rewards and punishments known as the "carrot and stick" method. The carrot would take the form of tax credits for research and development, along with more tax credits for consumers who switch to energy-efficient methods and renewable energy sources. The stick would balance the carrot by creating tax surcharges on imported oil and natural gas.

In addition to greater long-term profits for American businesses and lower production of greenhouse gases, this policy has the advantage of reducing - possibly even eliminating - America's dependence on foreign oil. The added security of making America energy independent would be tremendous.

Unfortunately, the current administration's leaders are too cozy with their oil partners to bother with something that's good for America in so many ways. Instead, it seems that George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, and their advisors are not only blind to the current situation, they are not only too myopic to see what the future can hold, but they are also unwilling - or unable - to take the steps that will make America's future secure.

 

Copyright 2005, Dan Jacoby

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