Carbon Capture: Solved by Software?
Many scenarios for a carbon free future often include the concept of carbon capture or conversion. this means that carbon is either turned into a usable material or buried far underground. The US government provides a incentive system in which business' get tax credit if they can stop carbon from entering the atmosphere. The government has developed partnerships with countless private business' in order to reduce emissions. Only issue is that it is difficult to move the carbon into 'storage'. The most viable option is burying it beneath the surface which many companies have started to do. A program has been developed to minimize costs for transportation which allows proper disposal of carbon and still allows the business' to make a profit.
I find this super interesting and good, because everyone always expects the government to fix the problems that the people create, but instead, in this scenario, the government assists the process, not directs it. These incentives are most likely the best way to keep CO2 emissions decreasing but keep business' still working. Other plans would suggest that these businesses just need to be destroyed, but working with them is always easier than working against them.
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I find this super interesting and good, because everyone always expects the government to fix the problems that the people create, but instead, in this scenario, the government assists the process, not directs it. These incentives are most likely the best way to keep CO2 emissions decreasing but keep business' still working. Other plans would suggest that these businesses just need to be destroyed, but working with them is always easier than working against them.
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Offering incentives is a good method to get businesses on board with an environmental agenda... I hope the incentives are reasonable and that some of those companies' savings are passed on to the consumer.
ReplyDeleteWhile I agree with you when you say that it is easier to work with the businesses than to work against them, allowing businesses to have a major say in the decision process regarding their own regulation could be a slippery slope to further issues (e.g. corporations gaining more control over the industry could lead to more relaxed environmental regulations). Also, while I don't think the government does a good job with everything they dip their toes into (in fact, I think the opposite), in a situation like this I would rather let the government have almost all the control over the processes. The businesses only have interest in getting more profit, while the government has interest in preserving the environment, which I believe aligns with what most people would want. On an ethical basis, I also question using incentives to facilitate changes of policy with businesses. If the corporations are the ones polluting the environment, why should they be bribed to stop doing it? Of course, its more complex with this when looking at the economic structures holding up the corporations actions, but at an essential level I believe it is similar. You don't give a child a reward for doing the wrong thing, right? This is just speculation, but perhaps incentives are an impetus for businesses to make hazardous decisions. Although I am saying a lot of negative things about this, though, it is an efficient way to accommodate corporations so that fast changes can be made. Maybe it could even be a key step in future environmental legislation, as well.
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