Economics Questions

Re: Carbon emissions -- what if they were the cause of global warming

Groucho — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 15:44:44 GMT

FlyingAxe:
It seems unlikely that victims of a hurricane could sue major contributors to atmospheric carbon dioxide...

Are hurricanes a phenomenon that didn't exist prior to industrial CO2 output? Of course not.

If a volcano erupts can we sue the denialists who refused to let us sacrifice a virgin?

Re: Carbon emissions -- what if they were the cause of global warming

Wheylous — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 14:36:14 GMT

If the public is against companies which pollute, all it has to do is rearrange its spending habits. Create private pollution ratings companies, and voilla!

Also, there could be some private property repercussions for polluters through courts.

Re: Carbon emissions -- what if they were the cause of global warming

Bogart — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 01:15:54 GMT

Semi-Free markets have done wonders in the reduction of the use of fossil fuels. In fact they have done way more than Obama ever has. Look at the E-Book, this saves millions of trees, millions of miles of truck travel and thousands of hours all spent handling paper books.

And with a free market people would be able to accelerate the process of producing things like the E-Book.

Compare this with the stupid hybrid cars out there. THese vehicles pollute a whole lot more when people have to dispose of large blocks of concetrated rare-earth materials in the batteries.

Carbon emissions -- what if they were the cause of global warming

FlyingAxe — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 01:04:06 GMT

Much of conservative and libertarian literature seems skeptical about antropogenic cause of global warming.

But, imagine for a second that it were really the case the increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide really was a result of Industrial Revolution. And that this increase led to global warming. And that global warming led to increased incidence of all kinds of adverse weather conditions.

Is there a way that free markets could help reduce carbon emissions in such a case -- i.e., through a non-political mechanism? It seems unlikely that victims of a hurricane could sue major contributors to atmospheric carbon dioxide...