Nexus - 1805 - New Times Magazine-pages

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a) money is generic to the holder while Certificates are individually registered to each citizen, and b) money persists while Certificates expire. The latter facet would greatly hinder, if not altogether prevent, the accumulation of wealth and property. a) money is generic to the holder while Certificates are currencies... For scholars and policymakers, the key task is to individually registered to each citizen, and mine history for guides that are more useful. Global b) money persists while Certificates expire. warming is considered an environmental issue, but its best The latter facet would greatly hinder, if not altogether solutions are not to be found in the canon of prevent, the accumulation of wealth and property. environmental law. Carbon's ubiquity in the world economy demands that cost be a consideration in any Transition regime to limit emissions. Indeed, emissions trading has At the start of World War II, Technocracy's popularity been anointed king because it is the most responsive to dwindled as economic prosperity returned; however, both cost. And since trading emissions for carbon is more akin to trading the organisation and its philosophy survived. currency than eliminating a pollutant, policymakers should Today, there are two principal websites representing be looking at trade and finance with an eye to how carbon Technocracy in North America. Technocracy, Inc., locatedin markets should be governed. We must anticipate the policy Ferndale, Washington, is represented at challenges that will arise as this bottom-up system emerges, www.technocracy.org. A. sister including the governance of seams organisation in Vancouver, British between each of the nascent trading Columbia, is Technocracy Vancouver, it systems, liability rules for bogus permits, can be found at www.technocracyvan.ca. It has figured and judicial cooperation." (Emphasis While Technocracy’'s original focus was added.) exclusively on the North American prominently in The authors concluded ‘hat atte continent, the movement is now growing . seven years of spinning wheels an rapidly in Europe and_ other the ecological/ wrong analogies, the international regime to industrialised nations. For instance, the ‘ control carbon is headed, albeit tentatively, Network of European Technocrats (NET) environmental down a productive path". (Emphasis was formed in 2005 as "an autonomous movement. added.) h and ial t that ai G In 2006, the then UK Envi t to explore and develop both the theory In fact, the entire Secretary David Miliband spoke to the and design of technocracy". The NET global warming Audit Commission Annual Lecture and website claims to have members Debate and flatly stated:"Imagine a around the world. movement country where carbon becomes 1 new Of course, a few minor-league indirectly sits currency. We carry bank cards that organisations and their websites store both pounds and carbon cannot hope to create or implement on top of the points. When we buy electricity, gas a global energy policy, but it's not Hubbert Peak and fuel, we use our carbon points, as well as pounds. To help reduce carbon emissions, the Government would set limits on the amount of carbon that could be used." (Emphasis added.) because the ideas aren't still alive and well. A more likely influence on modern thinking is due to Hubbert's Peak Oil theory introduced in 1954. It has figured prominently in the ecological In 2007, the New York Times and environmental movement. In published "When Carbon Is fact, the entire global warming movement indirectly sits on Currency" by Hannah Fairfield. She pointedly stated: "To theory. top of the Hubbert Peak theory. build a carbon market, its originators must create a currency of carbon credits that participants can trade." (Emphasis The Modern Proposal added.) Because of the connection between the environmental Point Carbon, a leading global consultancy, is partnered movement, global warming and the technocratic concept of | with Bank of New York Mellon to assess rapidly growing Energy Certificates, one would expect that a Carbon carbon markets. In 2008, it published "Towards a Common Currency would be suggested from that particular Carbon Currency: Exploring the prospects for integrated community, and in fact this is the case. global carbon markets". This report discusses both In 1995, Judith Hanna wrote in her article "Towards a environmental and economic efficiency in a similar context Single Carbon Currency" in New Scientist: "My proposal is to _ as originally seen with Hubbert in 1933. set a global quota for fossil fuel combustion every year, and Finally, on 9 November 2009, the UK Telegraph presented to share it equally between all the adults in the world.” an article "Everyone in Britain could be given a personal In 2006, the prestigious Harvard International Review ‘carbon allowance”: published "A New Currency", which stated: "implementing individual carbon allowances for every person "For those keen to slow global warming, the most _ will be the most effective way of meeting the targets for effective actions are in the creation of strong national carbon cutting greenhouse gas emissions. It would involve people at It has figured prominently in the ecological/ movement. In fact, the entire global warming movement indirectly sits on top of the Hubbert Peak theory. Is The Modern Proposal Because of the connection between the environmental movement, global warming and the technocratic concept of Energy Certificates, one would expect that a Carbon Currency would be suggested from that particular community, and in fact this is the case. In 1995, Judith Hanna wrote in her article "Towards a Single Carbon Currency" in New Scientist: "My proposal is to set a global quota for fossil fuel combustion every year, and to share it equally between all the adults in the world.” In 2006, the prestigious Harvard International Review published "A New Currency", which stated: "For those keen to slow global warming, the most effective actions are in the creation of strong national carbon NEXUS ¢ 27 environmental AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2011 www.nexusmagazine.com