Various Viewpoints on Climate Change, Research Paper Example

Abstract

The paper discusses the topic of climate change. Various viewpoints on climate change are discussed. The paper provides a brief discussion of command-and-control and incentive-based regulations. The advantages and disadvantages of both types of regulations are discussed. The paper justifies the choice of incentive-based regulations as an essential component of effective environmental policies.

Climate Change

The past century was marked with the unprecedented rise in environmental awareness and regulations. Despite the substantial benefits of environmental protection, the world faces numerous environmental threats. Industrial enterprises continue to grow. Inefficient use of natural resources has become a real environmental issue. Air pollution, smog, acid rains and nuclear threats contribute to the increasing sense of environmental fear, which has already become the distinctive feature of the postmodern environmental reality. Throughout the history of environmental protection, command-and-control principles were at the basis of all environmental policies. Today, however, a major shift in environmental consciousness should occur, to turn incentive-based regulations into the core element of all regulatory approaches toward climate change.

Climate Change: Alternative Viewpoints

That climate change is among the most controversial topics of public discussion cannot be denied. Numerous ideas were put forward by scientists, environmental organizations and the media about what causes climate change and what will happen to our planet in the nearest future. More often than not, individuals and organizations blame human activity for the increased levels of CO2. CO2 is believed to be the primary cause of the global climate change. The growing number of vehicles, increased industrial production, and even agriculture are responsible for the growing concentrations of CO2 which, in turn, result in overheating and lead to global warming of the planet.

This explanation would be simple and justified, if not for a number of other, alternative views on climate change. Some scientists believe that human activity is hardly the direct cause of the global climate change, simply because CO2 concentrations and temperature always varied on the planet (Parliament of Australia, 2009). During Pliocene, for example, the climate was much warmer than today (Parliament of Australia, 2009). Others are confident that CO2 is the natural product of all environmental processes and cannot cause any harm to the environment and humans (Parliament of Australia, 2009). Ultimately, water vapor could be the major cause of the global climate change – water absorbs energy more strongly than CO2 and is responsible for much of the greenhouse effects on the planet (Parliament of Australia, 2009). All these views, however, reveal one significant problem: the lack of scientific evidence to support at least some of the proposed theories of climate change.

I believe that the current change in global climate is both the result of the environmental shifts and human activity. I cannot but agree to Singer and Avery (2007) in that the Earth constantly warms and cools, and this cycle is global, abrupt, and undeniable. Global warming is nothing but a natural continuation of the 1,500-year climate cycle (Singer & Avery, 2007). However, one cannot deny the effects of increased human activity on the environment – never before did the humanity change the planet as dramatically as it did during the 20^th century. Technological discoveries and unprecedented economic growth are not directly responsible for but contribute to the discussed environmental change. Even the growing number of environmental laws and regulations does not help to halt the process of climate change on the planet.

Command-and-Control vs. Incentive-Based Regulations

Throughout the history of environmental regulation, command-and-control regulatory mechanisms had been at the basis of all policy decisions. Generally, command-and-control regulations exemplify the most common form of environmental policies in the developed and developing countries (ESCAP, 2003). To control environmental pollution through command-and-control regulations, two policy mechanisms are commonly used: technology-based standards and performance standards (Hahn & Stavins, 1991). The former identify particular equipment to be used to comply with regulation; the latter identify specific environmental protection goals and give firms some latitude to achieve them (Hahn & Stavins, 1991). Command-and-control regulations are advantageous in the sense that they are uniform, easy to comprehend, and are effective in achieving certain goals (Hahn & Stavins 1991). Unfortunately, it is not always possible to determine the best achievable standard for everyone (ESCAP, 2003). Moreover, command-and-control mechanisms do not give firms and individuals any incentives to reduce environmental pollution (ESCAP, 2003). Finally, the implementation of command-and-control approaches is unreasonably costly: “the dominant policy mechanism chosen to attack a number of environmental problems, tend to lead to inefficient outcomes in which firms use unduly expensive means of controlling pollution” (Hahn & Stavins, 1991, p. 6). For this reason, conventional regulatory mechanisms are gradually giving place to new, incentive-based approaches to environmental problems.

Incentive-based regulatory mechanisms are based on economic incentive systems (Hahn & Stavins, 1991). These mechanisms ensure that firms “automatically” choose to develop and run effective pollution control mechanisms and provide firms with incentives to use cleaner and cost-efficient manufacturing technologies (Hahn & Stavins, 1991). The benefits of incentive-based solutions are numerous, from lower costs of environmental protection to improved competitiveness, as long as incentives result in huge savings and improve productivity (Hahn & Stavins, 1991). Incentive-based regulations can encourage firms to develop innovative approaches to environmental protection (Hahn & Stavins, 1991). The use of incentive-based regulatory mechanisms can make the environmental debate more understandable for the public (Hahn & Stavins, 1991). Unfortunately, incentive-based mechanisms require a major change in policymaker and firms’ attitudes toward environmental protection. Today, a broader shift in environmental consciousness is needed, to turn incentive-based principles into the core element of all environmental regulations.

As a member of the Federal Congress, I would advocate the implementation of incentive-based approaches. The latter (a) reduce the costs firms spend to reduce environmental pollution, and (b) provide businesses with effective stimuli to promote the use of safer production technologies. Reduced costs allow firms investing in new environmental technologies and controlling the effects of the manufacturing processes on the environment. Ultimately, incentive-based regulations fit in the current system of corporate social responsibilities, which help to balance environmental protection needs with the basic principles of profitability, cost-effectiveness, and competitiveness in business.

Conclusion

The past century was marked with unprecedented rise in environmental awareness and the growing number of environmental laws and regulations. Despite the substantial gains of environmental protection, climate change remains the issue of the major public concern: the growing scarcity of environmental resources and industrial pollution of the environment contribute to and aggravate the situation. Throughout the history of environmental protection, command-and-control mechanisms were at the basis of all policy decisions. Today, incentive-based regulations offer numerous advantages to firms and society, in general. Given the seriousness of the environmental issues, a broader shift in environmental consciousness must occur, to turn incentive-based mechanisms into the core element of all regulatory approaches toward climate change.

References

ESCAP. (2003). Role of various environment-related measures. ESCAP Virtual Conference. Retrieved August 20, 2010 from http://www.unescap.org/drpad/vc/orientation/M5_2.htm

Hahn, R.W. & Stavins, R.N. (1991). Incentive-based environmental regulation: A new era from an old idea? Ecology Law Quarterly, 18, 1, 1-42.

Parliament of Australia. (2009). Contrasting viewpoints: Climate change. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved August 20, 2010 from http://www.aph.gov.au/library/pubs/ClimateChange/uncertaintyAndScepticism/contrasting.htm

Singer, S.F. & Avery, D.T. (2007). Unstoppable global warming: Every 1,500 years.

Rowman & Littlefield.