Tax individuals, not nations

As the climate change curve continues its ascent, it is time for all who are convinced on the science behind to get going on some action. Even in the developing world, like we have written about, renewable energy and energy efficiency drives are accelerating. Individual organizations and groups are at the forefront even where governments remain mulish.

How about reduction limits imposed on individuals rather than nations, as proposed by a team at Princeton University? Under this framework, the international community would draw a single, global line for carbon emissions. Countries would then be responsible for reducing the carbon footprint of individuals living above that line.

Overall, the researchers found that the United States and China would have the largest carbon dioxide reduction targets, while Russia, India, the Middle East, South Africa and north Africa would all have sizable targets, due to their energy industries.

Is this simply a way of transferring the onus? Is there really a comparison at all of the number of people living carbon-heavy lifestyles in the developed and developing world? For instance how many people in the US can boast of per capita emissions at 2 tonnes per person?

However, it would be a different thing to go by nations overall and in the developing world to assess emissions by individuals. After all when considering per capita, the total emissions is being divided by the population figure. Some sections in developing nations are emitting well above this figure.

The proposal also sets a floor for the 3 billion people predicted by 2030 to be emitting less than one ton of carbon dioxide a year. Those people - the poorest of the poor - should focus solely on bettering their lifestyles, and they should do so via any economical means, the authors say.

Should we actually go by the numbers then? Is that a better way of ensuring upliftment of the really poor without drastically altering the carbon bank?