Quote:
Originally Posted by Chingas
Sorry if it has been re-hashed hundreds of times already in this and the previous thread.
Can someone explain to me the benefits to Canada as a nation of agreeing any climate treaties that also include carbon credits/taxes etc?
Is this completely revolved around a holistic endeavour designed to make us look good in the light of global opinion? I think that I am missing the point here. I don't believe in total negligence and intentional or avoidable excess polution. I also don't believe in the intentional sinking of the economy and overall health of the Canadian economy and any infrastructure and run on benifits to its citizens that might be forfeighted as a result.
Is there a tangible upside here? Can anyone give me an eighth grade dissertation of the general talking points from both sides of this debate?
Is there a thread already dedicated to this? Should there be one?
Thank you
Edit: Is the increased funding for green energy and low tax for green energy producers as simple as it appears at first sight? Is this a lens directly into some of the largest campaign supporters? Am I jaded by the past business influencial realities of almost every major politician throughout the history of mankind?
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A very complex issue, many things to be commented on. I'll admit, I don't know a ton about carbon trading etc., but for the larger issue of green energy I think there are significant benefits to putting Canada on a path to develop and use green technologies. For one, it's going in that direction anyway, like it or not. One of the problems the Alberta economy has is the constant boom bust cycle of the fossil fuel industry. Becoming a leader in green technologies could help economically, other countries like Germany and China already have industries involving this. Of course, that probably won't happen, it seems we want to be dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century. But conversely, being late to the party could be economically costly too.
Of course, it all revolves around the very real and indisputable science that we are warming the world. And it's getting worse faster than we originally predicted. Yes, Canada uses a lot less energy than major countries like the US, and China, and popular opinion on the right is that since we use so little comparatively, we shouldn't really care until the big users do, but I don't really see that as making any sense. We use proportionally more than most other countries, including first world nations, and every little bit counts. As well, it appears the US is more willing to change than we are, so the big users ARE changing their ways.
There is a massive thread about it, probably not on the first page anymore. Bill Nye and DeGrasse Tyson warn about climate change or something. You'll find a lot more there on both sides. And a lot of the science and articles.