With the environment and energy usage becoming growing concerns, President Obama has brought about a plan to reduce the carbon footprint of Americans. Appropriately named the "President's Climate Action Plan", it is a compilation of regulatory policies to establish a more environmentally friendly America. Though this proposition may sound like a breakthrough in helping preserve the environment, others say it also contains a few problems that could greatly hinder its success. By including a collection of only small policies that pinpoint certain factors of our lives that contribute to carbon emissions, the government will not be capable of effectively lessening the overall usage of energy by Americans.
However, a bill proposed by Representatives Henry A. Waxman and Earl Blumenauer and Senators Sheldon Whitehouse and Brian Schatz targets the general use of carbon-emitting fuels rather than specific elements such as fuel efficiency in cars. This bill is centered around a "carbon tax", a fee determined by the amount of carbon the product produces. Fees would be included in the prices of products, and would encourage consumers to purchase the items that are cheaper, and therefore more eco-friendly in carbon emission. The revenue made from the proposed tax could even potentially reduce corporate and personal income tax rates if government decides to put it to use in this way.
With people becoming so dependent on technology in today's world, it is crucial for us to maintain and regulate out energy consumption. The proposed bill seems to be the answer we need to a growing and continuous issue that we have yet to successfully manage. It would make it much easier for consumers to do their part in reducing their carbon footprint by making it the more economical choice in addition to the eco-friendly one.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/01/business/a-carbon-tax-that-america-could-live-with.html?_r=0&adxnnl=1&ref=us&adxnnlx=1378062309-7OYbYU3QLAVPAf7scPA93A
Ashley Barnes, 2nd Period
ReplyDeleteI completely agree. By making the more environmentally friendly choice also the cheaper choice, it will give more of a reason to choose something that is better for the environment. I think this could be what finally makes it to where the majority of the people choose more environmentally friendly products.