Our opportunity to address climate change comes when there is culture wide recognition that our human economy must limit our collective emissions to what can be sequestered (removed through photsynthesis, mineralization or technology). When society recognizes that limit, we must address how to share that limit fairly. Eli develops the concept of a fair share of emissions where if the world averaged this amount, we would achieve net zero carbon emissions economy as referenced in the 2015 Paris Climate Accord.
Costa Rica is given as a gold standard for low emissions whilst upholding a happy and functioning society – with only 1.9 tons of CO2 emitted per person per year. But how can the USA, emitting more than 19 tons of CO2 per person per year move towards being more sustainable without a hindrance to the well being of its people? Eli’s estimate of a fair share of emissions is 2.6 tons CO2 per year
Fishpaw explores the limitations of strategies such as Cap and Trade which separates individuals and industry, instead seeking means to incentivize making improvements to our consumption system. Through explaining carbon pricing as a viable policy that communicates emissions in transaction cost, Fishpaw an in-depth exploration of carbon tax strategies that allow us to understand why it is important to bring about change.
Watch Eli’s lecture or read Eli’s website
QUAKERS & CLIMATE CHANGE WORLDWIDE 