Ettore Majorana Foundation and Center for Scientific Culture Permanent Energy Monitoring Panel Erice August 19 th 2007 Richard Wilson Harvard University.

Ettore Majorana Foundation and Center for Scientific Culture

Permanent Energy Monitoring Panel

Erice August 19th 2007Richard Wilson

Harvard University

Carbon dioxide concentrations are a global problem and should

be globally managed.

Preferably internationally, but if not, at the level of the US Federal Government or the

European Union.

Politicians and economists have been slow to grasp that the

carbon cycle is NOT the same as the sulpur/nitrogen/particulate

cycle.

We must teach them to take advantage of the difference.

Regulation and control is easier and more efficient the further upstream one goes.

For particulates we are limited to emissions control

For carbon we can go to the coal mine, oil well, gas field,

or port of entry.

Let us do so!

Particulates, sulphates, nitrates, are pollutants to be

brought to zero

Carbon Dioxide is a substance to be managed

At best, present schemes are sector by sector control and

cannot transfer between sectors

Diffreence between carbon taxes and cap and trade schemes is

small compared with advantage of upstream control

Regulation by a city (Boulder, CO)

or by a state (CA) or a country (in EU) is harder to regulate as far upstream as for USA or EU

EU or USA can set example for the world and hopefully UN

follows

Control by emissions limitsor efficiency standards

or subsidy for non carbon fuelsis inherently “centrally planned”

Which do you trust the least?Wshington Politicians,

Sierra club Lawyers?Starry eyed scientists?

The market place?

We argue: apply control, or tax when

carbon leaves the ground and enters the surface pool

NOT of CO2 emissions or mpgOnly a “few” places

oil wells, mines, ports etc Not the myriad of places which emit

There is talk of a gas tax.It should be a carbon tax

There should be no exceptions.

Erice meetings constantly urge a return to nuclear power.

The list of initiatives listed in 2006 Stern report - proposals or tokenism

Germany and now UK 20% renewable electricity:

wind 50% more expensive than coal or nuclear

But:German experience

( Birkhofer at Erice in 2005)Wind about 50% more expensive

that coalUS subsidy 2 cents per kwh

Therefore we recommend that governments and international agencies treat all non carbon energy technologies on a par with each other with access to similar subsidies and benefits of removal of financial market barriers so that improved versions of all these technologies can rapidly be utilized for achieving stabilization of greenhouse gas emissions while meeting energy demand.

The European Union and the United States of America are both considering federal plans to

manage carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

The WFS recommend that this control be as far upstream in the carbon cycle as possible,

Viz:oilwell, coal mine, gas field, or port of entry.

This becomes possible, now that regulation is considered on a large geographical scale.