Frequently Asked Questions
In this section there are FAQs on climate generally, climate policy, questions on capping carbon, and questions specifically about Cap & Share. There is also a Glossary defining some of the jargon which gets used in discussing climate change and how to tackle it.
What is Climate Change / Global Warming anyway?
Isn’t there still disagreement among scientists that global warming’s real?
What does 'upstream' mean? (or 'ppm', 'permit', 'sequestration' ... )
Why is it so urgent?
Well if it’s so important, why isn’t the government doing anything?
Is it already too late?
Climate Policy FAQs
Won’t technology sort the problems out?
What about nuclear power?
But we have policy, surely? We have the EU ETS, the UK has a Climate Change Act, President Obama is doing things in the USA, and there’s Kyoto?
So why is the government not taking it seriously?
So what can we do?
This all sounds political. Shouldn’t you be advocating that people do practical things like switching to low-energy light-bulbs?
What about recycling? Green living? Plastic bags?
How does all this relate to Transition Towns?
Is a Green New Deal the answer?
Wouldn’t we be better spending the money on helping people to adapt, especially in poor countries?
But isn’t it more important to tackle poverty, AIDS and other ills?
Isn’t overpopulation the real problem?
Capping Carbon FAQs
Why is capping carbon so important?
Why a cap? Isn’t it enough to “do our bit”?
What about China?
Won’t this hurt our standard of living / exports / jobs?
Are carbon taxes a better way than setting a “hard” cap?
Is capping carbon basically all we need to do then?
Cap & Share FAQs
Why only adults - shouldn’t children get a certificate too?
What about poor people who live in old houses?
What about people who live in rural areas?
What’s to stop people just buying more petrol (and so busting the cap)?
But surely this means rich people can still have big cars and buy more petrol?
Prices are higher but I get the certificate income - doesn’t this negate the price signal?
Isn’t Personal Carbon Trading (PCAs or TEQs) a better way forward?
Why not simply give people the money - as in Cap & Dividend?
What about other greenhouse gases?
Isn’t it naive to suppose politicians will do this in time?
Glossary