ATM S 111 Lecture Notes - Lecture 17: Sulfur Dioxide, Overgrazing, Consumer Choice

• School: UW
• Department: Atmospheric Sciences
• Course: ATM S 111
• Professor: D A R G A N M F R I E R S O N

Document Summary

Inequities result from regional variability (climate responses) and wealth (affects how the country adapts). Tragedy of the commons: when individuals acting in their own self-interest harm a shared resource. Pollution is a classic example where climate is the common good. Damage to the commons is a (cid:862)(cid:374)egati(cid:448)e e(cid:454)ter(cid:374)alit(cid:455). (cid:863) origi(cid:374)all(cid:455) posed (cid:449)ith the proble(cid:373) of o(cid:448)er-grazing on shared land. Consumer choice tends not to work so well in these situations, these issues requires government regulation. Other mitigation strategies: banning co2, james henson that big problem is coal so maybe ban coal. Any legislative solution will have loopholes meaning coal power plant construction may not slow down. Cap and trade: a cap is a limit on the amount of a pollutant. Polluters are given or auctioned permits that allow a certain number of polluters. Buyers pay to pollute and sellers get a reward for reducing emissions. Monitoring, accountability and assessment is key for success.