New climate study (by James Hansen et al) argues for carbon fee

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://ioppublishing.org/2016/03/02/new-climate-study-argues-for-carbon-fee/

[font face=Serif][font size=5]New climate study argues for carbon fee[/font]

2 Mar 2016


[font size=3]A new study reports that current rising temperatures already noticeably load the ‘climate dice’, with growing practical impacts. As a bottom line, the lead author, Dr James Hansen, argues that a carbon fee is needed to spur replacement of carbon fuels with clean energy.

The findings are reported today, 2[font size="1"]^nd[/font] March 2016, in the journal Environmental Research Letters.

The researchers plotted the shift in the “bell curve” describing seasonal mean local temperatures for both summer and winter in many regions around the globe. They found that the bell curve shift is becoming important in many places.

“We see that climate change is becoming noticeable at mid-latitudes, especially in summer” explains Hansen. “And we can already see large effects at tropical and subtropical latitudes”.

…[/font][/font]

http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/11/3/034009

[kristopher]

1. I'll drop this here...

It's the conclusion of the study where Hansen proposes his policy solution and it's foundation. The entire body of the paper makes an excellent case that the problem is real and that it must be addressed. However I personally think he needs to delve more into the policy mechanisms that he wants to see enacted and the nature of how governments form international agreements. Bottom line, his science is first rate, but his understanding of policy doesn't even rise to the novice level. I really, really wish it were as simple as he seems to believe it to be.

A carbon fee can be initiated by a few major economic powers and spread to most nations via border duties on fossil-fuel-derived products from non-participating nations and fee rebates to domestic manufacturers for goods shipped to non-participating nations (Hsu 2011). Issues raised by 'coercive cooperation' implicit in border adjustments (Bohringer et al 2012) will be subdued, once the severity and urgency of the climate threat is widely appreciated, by realization that fossil fuels cannot be phased out if some countries are allowed to export products made with untaxed fossil fuels. Developing countries have rights, recognized in the concept of common but differentiated responsibilities, and leverage to achieve economic assistance, which should be tied to the improved agricultural and forestry practices needed to limit trace gas emissions and store more carbon in the soil and biosphere. Finally, international cooperation in generating more affordable carbon-free energies is needed, or economic development in many nations will continue to be based on fossil fuels, despite pollution and climate impacts.