Global Warming: The Answer: (The Energy Dividend)

Global Warming: The Answer takes as given that global warming is man-made and occurring with increasingly adverse effects. After a brief review of the carbon cycle (and how man is disturbing it), the book argues that global warming is an economic problem: Given the right prices, technical solutions will follow. After looking at the (limited) solutions for personal virtue in reducing pollution, the book examines the chimera of a carbon neutral life-style, and necessity to achieve a fossil-free economy. Cap and Trade is shown to involve huge wealth transfers to established polluters, and is thus rejected in favor of a revenue neutral, carbon tax. More specifically an initial carbon tax of $250 ton, with the revenue returned the public through lowered payroll taxes in the U.S. (or V.A.T. or sales taxes elsewhere). Existing and pending technologies that will take-off once fossil fuels are taxed are reviewed, as are ancillary policies in support of the carbon tax. Some suggestions are offered for increasing international collaboration. It is emphasized however that to date no significant action has been take to combat global warming: Kyoto, higher mileage requirements, and An Inconvenient Truth not-withstanding. Action is urgent But first the public have to understand the answer to global warming.