Johnbisonbear said "People go into business to make money, money makes the world go round. Who wants to makes less profit? No business man/woman I know wants to make less.
Gov't can't control what people buy, and it will be a sad day if that ever happens. "
WARNING - This is a long read. PARK THE CAR
We do have an really easy solution to the worlds manufacturing polluters... TARIFFS! Forget about the idea of an "self regulated Carbon Taxes" of polluting industries and countries. Use what usually works at an international level. We already nail countries like Iran, Russia and Venezuela with tariffs on oil exports for political differences against the world views. Why not expand the "Black listed" trade to i:nclude countries that not only do the political/social/human injustices, but environmental injustices as well? We now have satellites up that have the abilities, not only to monitor CO2 levels in the atmosphere, but accurately detect amount and the regional source right down to the smokestack. Why can't we have a "World Coalition of Environmental Crime" at either New York's United Nations or The Hague's International Court of Justice? Then use this satellite data as evidence towards new Environmental Laws related and held to the same level as "Crimes Against Humanity", so that this will allow to sanction world wide tariffs on polluters products?
This idea would bypass a lot of bull$h!+ talks and political jerking off with world leaders and representatives. This World Court with new laws would simply draw up a case based on the evidence that is provided and trial the accused company or the country, or even an entire international industry. The justice system would be fair, but swift. Lawyers can represent the defense, but by law... court proceedings and debates can only go on for days or months, not years once the charge and trial date has been set. And sentencing is immediate without debate, and all the while, the appeal process does not delay the applied worldwide sanctions.
Don't get me wrong, carbon trade (carbon taxes) could work. But it needs to be governed and controlled by this coalition instead of individual industries or countries. Favoritism often takes place and the abuse of hiding behind international borders will continue. The rules need to be the same throughout the world.
Amazing international laws could be set with a system like this... Coal could be labelled as "hazardous or toxic material" and be controlled with very strict regulations or be banned outright for large scale mining or continuous usage. The fuel industry could be better controlled on extraction, production and usage of carbon emitting energy. The travel and tourist industry can be properly regulated internationally with mandated sanctions to tax on jet travel and cruise ship industries, while omitting international border/boundary "safe-haven loopholes". The same be also applied to cargo and shipping industries that hide behind the flags of other countries. We could have international laws made, regulated, monitored and swiftly enforced on every polluting industry from this one worldwide coalition of planetary justice... Energy production & usage, waste, pollution, food, forestry, mining, manufacturing, trade and transportation. Something as simple as packaging could be properly enforced to reduce the unnecessary usage of plastic when alternative practices (although more costly) are available. Gone, will be the days of more packaging than product. And shops will need shelves instead of hooks because they will receive products in bulk containers, rather than pallets of boxes wrapped with plastic containing more boxes enclosing either styrofoam or plastic filler that only has the purpose as a "theft deterrent" or suit a hanging style display case. All destined (except maybe blank cardboard) to be deemed as unrecyclable trash. ...Including the eventual disposal of the product itself. Just stop and think of something like a AA battery and what it was cocooned in when it left the factory, thousands of kilometers away. Only to pitch that battery in the trash when it's spent.
We would never have to deal with something like this COP26 "song and dance" with world leaders, dignitaries, celebrity, protestors and targeted media opinions, ever again. China and India showing up late and not talking about their heavy usage of coal? ...No problem. The World Justice will quickly gather evidence, swiftly make a case, efficiently prosecute and rule that the International Coalition will immediately sanction bans or tariffs to all their offending industries activities within these two countries (such as coal imports and materials they need to produce) and the products themselves leaving the borders. "Hey, if you won't even talk about change, we'll do it for ya". ...Simple as that.
Oh, I know this will hurt the world markets. But tariffs is really the only real solution, by hurting their bottom line and pocketbooks. ...And yes, it will eventually hurt our pocketbooks if we don't change our habits and lifestyle. And because our society, generally, behaves like a spoiled child... we will need this higher authority to educate and change our ways with the care, but the firm assertiveness of a wise parent. Sure, some "kids" are going to scream and flail on the floor at the store. But that's when Mommy takes a breath, picks up the kicking and crying brat and carry it out the store and set them aside (preferably in a car) and given a chance to settle down. Sometimes that works and they both can go back to the store. Sometimes that doesn't, and Mommy will go back to shop alone or back with only her other kiddies. A terrible child shouldn't get what want, simply for demanding, threating or by making a scene. No is no, Mom is in control and has the final say, not the other way around. That's how good parenting works and that's how good national/international governing should work. A great example is how COVID vaccines are handled now. (don't want to vaccinate? ..You can't sit with the other kids. LOL) Come on, children... Should you really need that walk in closet be filled with clothes only to be worn once or twice? Should you allow over packaging? Should your dumps be full of discarded, stupid, impulsive purchases? Should manufactures produce "disposable or nonrecyclable" products just to meet a lower price point or the demand of a ignorant, lazy buyer group? Should you allow electronics be engineered to have a short product lifespan? Should you accept your government to allow polluters to continue for generations on the sake of jobs or something even worse... Subsidies for these polluters in a financial unsustainable industry (like tourism and air travel)? Do you allow the artificially deflated energy prices to keep many on continuing the inefficient use carbon emitting fuel and energy (petroleum, heavy oil, natural gas, coal) Well junior... You can't just sit there and sulk or cry and not give a reasonable answer... That's why Mommy needs to decide and act in your behalf.
...And if that means she said, "NO " or that you loose some of your friends because she spanked the "Chinese kid" from across the street for not listening, being rude, taking things, bullying, wrecking the house and being a bad influence? ...So be it. Maybe everyone will learn from her example and actions and we'll act better.
Just my opinion, I could be wrong.
Edited by snowman5, 2021-11-13 16:44:39