What Constitutes an Effective Approach to Limiting Greenhouse Gases?
Video: RAND Congressional Briefing Series
Featured Participants
- Michael Toman (Moderator), RAND Corporation
- Peter Molinaro, Vice President, Federal and State Government Affairs, The Dow Chemical Company
- David Hawkins, Director, Climate Center, Natural Resources Defense Council
- William Kovacs, Vice President, Environment, Technology & Regulatory Affairs, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
The Obama administration and Congress have called enactment of a cap-and-trade program for limiting U.S. emissions of CO2 and other greenhouse gases a top priority. However, this shared goal does not mean that an acceptable agreement will be easy or quick to negotiate or that what is negotiated will end up being effective.
Panelists addressed some key questions about cap-and-trade programs that need to be resolved:
- Which sources of pollutants will be included in a cap-and-trade program, and what other regulatory measures may be added to ensure the reduction of greenhouse gases?
- Will emission allowances be given away, or auctioned by the government?
- Will auction revenues be used solely to help reduce greenhouse gases?
- Which key interest groups will need to align in order for the program's goals to be met?
- What is the timeline for phasing in caps, and does this schedule effectively factor in those of other countries?
About RAND
RAND is a nonprofit institution that helps improve policy and decisionmaking through research and analysis. RAND focuses on the issues that matter most such as health, education, national security, international affairs, law and business, the environment, and more. As a nonpartisan organization, RAND operates independent of political and commercial pressures. We serve the public interest by helping lawmakers reach informed decisions on the nation's pressing challenges.