Creating a Market to Slow Deforestation

A few days ago I did a post on the new "study" by those who have long hated ethanol -- attacking it as making global climate change "worse than gasoline" because more ethanol production in the U.S. would encourage more deforestation in developing countries.

To read my full outrage on this topic -- click here to see the original post.

The basic point to remember is that if you want to inspire an outcome in another country -- the best chance of achieving that is creating a market incentive for them to respond to. Backtracking on our ethanol production and use will not stop China from continuing their expanding demand and production of ethanol and biofuels in general -- they are already #3 in the world in ethanol production. No -- if you want to stop deforestation because of all the precious carbon those rainforests are holding -- THEN BLOODY WELL RECOGNIZE IT IS A PRECIOUS COMMODITY AND PAY THEM FOR IT!! If the lefty enviro groups were really interested in solving a problem, rather than punishing polluters, they would take some of their cash resources and pay developing countries to keep their rainforests intact. Some groups do help with this -- but not the radical left -- they would much rather force those countries to do their bidding by denying them market choices rather than creating more positive ones.

The story below illustrates the idea of an international carbon market and how it could help send the market signal to developing countries that their rainforests just might be worth more than the crops they could grow on that land -- so, no need for world government dictatorial edicts -- these countries will WANT to preserve carbon once it is treated as the valuable commodity that it is.

Why not put your energy and money into creating this market rather than attacking the ethanol market. Ask yourself -- who wins by continuing to polarize the ENTIRE middle of the country by trashing the biofuel they are so rightly proud of??

Americans should refuse the very limited and manipulative thinking from the radical enviros that says you have to either want your country to get off of oil OR care about the environment and the planet. They can be the same thing!!!!

Sara

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Environment & Energy Daily

Global warming panel to study int'l deforestation (02/11/2008)

Darren Samuelsohn, E&E Daily senior reporter

The House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming turns its attention this week to deforestation's role in causing climate change.

The panel's Thursday hearing will consider options for protecting tropical rainforests, including those in Indonesia, Brazil and Costa Rica. A proposal under debate in the Senate would tie auction revenue from a cap-and-trade system to funding for developing countries.

Another idea approved through United Nations' global warming negotiations would set up a system that allows developing countries to receive payment in an international carbon market to stop cutting down trees.

Last December's U.N. conference in Bali concluded with diplomats agreeing to study deforestation and work through a series of important technical details on measuring emission reductions. The U.N. agreement aims to ensure there is no leakage as loggers move to other forests outside the program.

Andrew Mitchell, director of the London-based Global Canopy Programme, called the U.N. agreement "a watershed moment."

The World Bank has also launched a $300 million pilot program to help about 20 countries protect their forest. And the Norwegian government has pledged about $2.5 billion over five years for the cause.

Rainforest nations started their efforts several years ago to be included in a new U.N. climate agreement but couldn't get much traction. That changed last year as the scientific evidence mounted about the threats of climate change, and experts were able to show the developing countries could play a big role in reducing emissions by slowing and stopping their deforestation rates.

"We went from being totally in isolation to now being an active part of the discussions," Papua New Guinea climate delegate Kevin Conrad said at the conclusion of the U.N. conference. "That's excellent. But now the hard work begins."

Schedule: The hearing is on Thursday, Feb. 14, at 2 p.m. Room TBA.