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Carbon Management : A Philosophy

Summary

1. Deterioration in the climate may become irreversible before there is conclusive proof of a causal link with anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions.

2. A phased programme of reductions in carbon dioxide emissions is essential.

3. People should be made readily aware of the extent of the problem by empowering both individuals and businesses with the right to receive a Carbon Allowance based on a globally consistent standard.

4. Carbon Allowances should be credited to Carbon Accounts held by Carbon Banks regulating a Carbon Currency in grammes of CO2.

5. Individuals, Businesses and Governments should be held responsible for spending their Carbon Allowances with care.

6. The current scale of the problem means that many people and businesses should be provided with an agreed carbon overdraft. There should be monetary penalties for people and businesses with excessive carbon overdrafts beyond these agreed limits.

7. Governments should put in place a legislative, monitoring and recording framework whereby the aforementioned rights and responsibilities become a reality.

Introduction

Earth has provided the human race with a stable environment for growth and development. Volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and tsunami appear to have only limited effects on the relentlessly increasing human population. Now climatic changes are a perceived threat to this relatively comfortable environment, and may enforce a change in the way human progress is managed.

Occasional visitors to the Arctic extremes and highest parts of the Himalayas have become readily aware of the melting ice, and shifting seasons are becoming apparent. There have been measurable increases in atmospheric and oceanic concentrations of carbon dioxide. This would appear to be due to anthropogenic burning of fossil fuels since the beginning of the industrial revolution.

Can we afford to wait for conclusive proof of a link between the elevated carbon dioxide concentrations and the noticeable climatic changes of recent years ? Adverse effects may be irreversible if we wait too long.

There has been recognition of the potential for current trends to lead to major changes such as rises in sea levels and unpredictable winds. There may be exponential and self-perpetuating processes such as reduced areas of ice and snow reflecting less light and heat thereby exacerbating the greenhouse' effect. Worldwide publicity of these issues has lead to small changes in human behaviour; the proportion of

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