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Although not a popular word these days, but what about tariffs? If First World Country A sees Emerging Market Country B as major contributor to global climate
by woodpanel 7y ago
Although not a popular word these days, but what about tariffs?
If First World Country A sees Emerging Market Country B as major contributor to global climate change (affecting A) it could impose tariffs on goods from B.
It could be argued, that B’s products were unfairly subsidized by B having no environmental restrictions (from energy production and worker’s health to waste disposal etc).
Of course tariffs also hurt A’s citizens - but I’d consider it a fair deal: A’s people pay a price for being convinced that climate change needs to be tackled.
At least - considering how climate policy is usually a first world issue while those same countries are only contributing small fractions to world’s share of emissions (ex. USA) - it seems odd that those First world countries usually directly punish their own citizens (that have limited impact on climate change) instead of the main polluters in emerging markets.
- BurningFrog 7y agoMy sarcasm aside, you do have a point. There could really come a point when the US and other countries truly makes this their primary global policy priority, and both make the sacrifices themselves and applies what pressure they have on others to make this happen. My "nuclear attack" option is a caricatured and unrealistic version of this, but a humbler version can certainly happen. Though the problem with these things is that we're talking about a Public Good. In the strict economic sense: I should do something that's bad for me, but good for everybody. These things strongly tend not to get done unless someone is forcing it done. Which leads us to a world government. Which actually scares me a lot more than global warming!