Chapter 1 Flashcards
What are the 4 questions?
- How much pollution is too much?
- Is government up to the job?
- How can we do better?
- Can we resolve global issues?
Is zero pollution achievable?
No and it is not a desired goal.
What should we focus on instead of 0 emissions?
At what level are te benefits of pollution outweighed by its costs?
We need to use a benefit-cost framework.
This is a ver difficult thing to do.
What does the mid-range benefit-cost perspective maintain? what is the solution?
That a near-term policy of CO2 cuts below correct levels is too costly. Investing resources and person-power in reducing GHG emissions will divert from schools or health care = worse environment for the future.
We need to focus on benefit-cost analysis - balance of investments between climate protection and other goods and services that people value.
What does the cost-benefit analysis endorse?
Control pollution only if the measurable monetary benefits of doing so are greater than the measurable monetary costs.
What are the 2 obstacles to effective government action?
- Imperfect information: difficult to obtain accurate information about the costs and benefits of pollution.
- Opportunity for political influence: there are different political persuasions that analyze government activity.
Describe the difference in the conservative and the progressive view for government intervention.
Conservative: views governmental intervention as a necessary evil and argue for as I tied a government role as is possible in all affairs, including environmental affairs.
Progressive: views government as capable of promoting an activist agenda to serve the general interest of the public.
How do we control CO2 emissions?
- Command-and-control regulation: government regulates CO2 emissions by mandating the adoption of particular types of CO2 control technology.
- Incentive-based regulation.
- Pollution taxes and cap-and-trade systems.
What kind of good is CO2 reduction?
A public good - a good that is consumed in common.
