Is THIS a possible solution to the problem?

Question

get as realistic as possible about what we can actually do about climate change. Everybody seems to be so enamored by this idea we've got to cut emissions and we've got to cut them right now. And I understand why: because it makes us feel warm and fuzzy. We're doing something. Of course the real fact of the matter is we don't do very much. We promise a lot, but we don't actually do very much. And the honest-to-God reason is it's fairly expensive.

Rich people in rich countries will do a little, mainly for show. But most people in rich countries won't do very much, and certainly no one in the poor countries will do anything.

My point is , and this is very, very simple , instead of cajoling people into doing something that is very expensive, which is hard, why not actually make it much cheaper? Instead of convincing more and more people to buy expensive solar panels, for instance, why not invest in research and development so that these become much cheaper — competitive with fossil fuels, or maybe even cheaper. If we could get there, we wouldn't have to have this conversation

http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1666772,00.html?xid=feed-yahoo-healthsci

bestonnet_00: More taxes is NOT THE ANSWER!!! More money only goes to the politicians and their bank accounts. The real solution is to lessen costs, not to increase them.

Answer 1

You have to understand that the environment is a multi billion dollar business. So much is being done to reduce co2 and other pollutants from being released in the air, water, and land.

Can we do more without causing pain? Sure. The politicians can put an end to ruralification programs that subsidize rural life by placing taxes on urban dwellers causing urban sprawl.

We can build more nuclear power plants as well.

I think warmers are getting rich by keeping oil over $80/bbl. Remember Algores wealth comes from Occidental Petroleum.

Answer 2

Another solution is to make emitting CO2 more expensive and then you'd make it easier for clean sources like nuclear power to compete with dirty sources like wind with methane backup (which some people think would be a solution to the problem).

This would be most effectively done by implementing a carbon tax on every gram of CO2 released. Deciding what to set the carbon tax at is our only problem but it is an easier problem than setting up a carbon market that isn't too corrupt to be useful.

I think it would also be a good idea to make people realise that energy efficiency is a wasted effort when it comes to saving the planet because either you have a power system that can supply your needs without destroying the environment or you do not. No amount of saving energy can possibly make an environmentally destructive power system clean so why don't we stop wasting effort on it?

EDIT:
"bestonnet_00: More taxes is NOT THE ANSWER!!! More money only goes to the politicians and their bank accounts. The real solution is to lessen costs, not to increase them."

More taxes is the answer. The reason that we have a problem is because fossil fuel burning does not have the environmental cost factored into the price so the best way to solve the problem is to factor the damage done to the environment into the price (and not just of fossil fuels but everything), that way the technologies which do not produce such externalities (or which can handle them) don't go up in price as much as the systems that do pollute.

The problem is that what we pay for burning fossil fuels isn't what they actually cost, a carbon tax is there to ensure that we pay something closer to the actual cost.

I don't think anyone should be allowed to use the money raised from carbon taxes (or any other pollution taxes) for anything other than cleaning up pollution or mitigating the effects of the pollution. If you're worried about the effects of an increase in the price of fossil fuels on low income people then lower other taxes for them and raise the highest tax bracket (or make a new even higher one).

Answer 3

If you think there is little or no money being invested in developing cheaper solar cells, then you are not aware of all the work going on. In fact most people on this forum seem to think nobody is doing anything and everybody in the world (except themselves and a few like minded friends) are greedy, lazy, parasites on the planet who consume and return nothing. But actually they are the lazy ones, doing nothing but complaining here on answers while other hard working people who have completed school and gotten science degrees are hard at work finding solutions.

A friend of mine is helping set up a new solar cell factory, and he says these factories are going up all over the world at a fast pace and the industry is expecting to be able to reduce the cost of solar cells from the present $3 per watt to $1 per watt in a few years. He also said that $3 a watt is already competitive in Japan where energy costs are high, and that $1 a watt will be competitive all over the world.

Several governments, including the U.S. government, are investing billions of dollars in fusion power research.

With the help of tax rebates wind generators are popping up all over the world at a high rate.

Production of fuels like ethanol and biodiesel are increasing as fast as possible all over the world, mostly with private money.

Answer 4

I think you have got your facts a little wrong.

In fact most "green" things are very cost effective.
For instance, CFL light bulbs may cost a little more up front but will save over $35 in electricity over the life of the bulb.

The cost of some caulk ($1.28 x 4) enough to seal your home up tight will increase in your homes efficiency by 10% - 20% saving 10 to 20 times the cost of the caulk.

Using Low-E windows in cold climates will be more expensive at first, but the energy savings will pay itself off in under 5 years.

My point is, the key to being green is to CONSERVE FIRST and then and only then look into alternative energies because that is whats really expensive. The return on investment on doing the little things to conserve are 3 to 4 times higher than if you just went out and bought a solar panel system before conserving.
In other words you may spend $100,000 for a solar system to run your house now, but if you invested $15,000 into conservation techniques on that same house, you could reduce that solar panel cost to $50,000 to $60,000.

I hope that makes sence

Answer 5

the research and development is what makes solar panels so expensive, whn people actually start buying them the price will fall.

-just using the tax dollars thrown away so far on the Iraq war could have payed for the construction of 300 2000MW nuclear power plants - use this amount of money to only provide incentives to power companies and every new power plant built would be nuclear - even in coal mining states.

Answer 6

Exactly the reason why in Europe when we speak about cuttin emissions, we think first about increasing the energy efficiency since it cuts fuel costs and saves money.

The 20% target of increase in renewable energies is not so expensive since it provides:
- energy independance (safety)
- reduced pollution and associated costs
- technological advance (first mover advantage to export technologies)
- businesses and jobs
- image and prestige
- decreased constraint on international fuel markets
- reduced cost for the military to control resources and ensure international fuel streams

BTW: solar is also competitive in multiple areas like southern Italy, Chile, rural Africa, etc...

Incentives are a high cost, but the return on investment in key future sectors is worth it (e.G.: Germany controls 50% of the worldwide solar industry and 60% of the wind).

Answer 7

You are absolutely right.
I saved 20% on my domestic electrical useage just by using those low voltage bulbs.
The reason I brought them was because I was told they would save me money, and they did.
So now I am interested, and I am becoming much more green thinking as a knock-on effect.
Hey, I do care about the planet, but I am only human, if I can benifit by saving money then it keeps me motivated.

Answer 8

Where will the money collected by this carbon tax go?

What if poor countries can't afford the tax?
Will the UN plunder the country to get stuff to sell to pay the tax?

Answer 9

U R right. U-SEE the need of the hour is solutions that are sustainable, renewable, replicable, economical and should result in protection and preservation of natural resources since they are not infinite. With this in mind, U-SEE - I adopted a simple solution to save electricity and to save money for myself and finally gave it to the World Bank. In turn they called me and honored me. Have a look at the following, adopt it yourself and spread the news to the result of the community. Let us leave some good earth to our future generations:
U-SEE - We must save the world from over-exploitation of natural resources
Knowingly or unknowingly we are all partners in misusing of costly electricity for our lighting purpose during day time when the solar light is available just outside our windows. Why can't bring home the sunshine?
Yes. This has been successfully adopted by a number of people in Bangalore, India. This innovative but simple method of bringing home the sunshine was suggested to the World Bank as a Grassroots Initiative for Preservation of Natural Resourcs during IDM-2007 competition - Project U-SEE (Unlimited Savings of Electrical Energy). U-SEE does not involve any nano technology nor does it requires billions of dollars for implementation. Moreover, U-SEE you get free lighting for life. No charges.
The World Bank honored this initiative and has created a permanent blog on the World Bank URL at http://dmblog.worldbank.org/mirrors-can-bring-light-rural-homes.
How is it implemented? U need a house hold mirror of 12"X18" and a pillow. Identify where u can get maximum sunshine just outside the windows with clear glass or on the balcony, keep the pillow on a stool or chair and place the mirror on the pillow, go on nudging the mirror till the solar light is deflected from the mirror, through the window and on to the white ceiling inside your home. U will be surprised to find the light spreading from the ceiling - it can be 40 to 60 watts (see the picture above - notice tube light and table lamp in the corner are not burning but there is enough light). If u can keep a bigger mirror, u will get more bright light. U can control the light just by covering a portion of the mirror.
Earth moves on its latitude. When u find that the deflected solar light is moving elsewhere, just go to the mirror, nudge a little and u can get back your light as before. THIS IS THE BASIC IDEA and once u have done it, u be the Innovator of your light requirements for your home and U-SEE PROVIDES YOU FREE LIGHTING FOR LIFE. Many homes/huts in rural areas in developing countries do not have proper lighting and people are living in dark, damp and dingy environs but urbanites living in concrete jungles in cities with tinted glasses are misusing electricity for their lighting purpose even during day time.
U-SEE the Benefits: ONE incandescent bulb/tubelight burning for 6 hours during day time consumes 7 units of electricity in a month. If half the world can adopt U-SEE and switch off one bulb for 6 hours during day time, how much of electricity can be saved? Your guess is as good as mine + saves cost of fossil fuels, coal, water+saves cost incurred for machineries and equipments+saves overhead charges+saves transmission loss charges+saves the world from global warming (burning bulbs/CO2 etc) with n'th value+ U GET FREE LIGHTING FOR LIFE with n'th value. The savings that accrue can off set the load on our productive requirements like A/c, refrigerators, mixies, fans etc.
Solar light will be available at least for about 200 days in a year and it is infinite and why should we let it go waste? We are not harnessing this infinite energy. U-SEE is ssoo simple.
First adopt this method, innovate solutions if u face small problems. U be the winner. U-SEE It is a win win situation for all of us. Need clarifications, mail: [e-mail] U-SEE - The author's ambition is to spread this friendly initiative to one and all. No charges!!
Vasanthkumar Mysoremath, Bangalore, India