Changing Climate - Changing World looks at how our changing climate

is changing the world we live in, locally and globally.

In Part 4 of this series, climate leader Dr. Peter Joseph of the

Climate Reality Project returns to give us an update about concepts

that aim to fight global warming and climate change

by putting a price on carbon emissions and offering rewards

for reducing carbon pollution.

Several countries and states have taken leads in these areas, for example:

- The first international trading system for greenhouse gas emissions 

was put in place in 2005, when the European Union launched 

the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) as the cornerstone 

of its strategy for cutting carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions 

and other greenhouse gases.  The EU ETS is the world’s first 

major carbon market and remains by far the biggest today, 

accounting for over three-quarters of the trading volume 

of the international carbon market. 

- in 2008, British Columbia implemented a revenue-neutral carbon tax

and increased this tax again on July 1, 2012.

It puts a price on carbon emissions to encourage individuals, businesses, 

industry and others to use less fossil fuel and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 

- in late 2012, California opened its cap-and-trade program

leading the nation on a path toward climate change action,

and realizing the goals of the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (AB 32).

- On a U.S. national level, the Citizens Climate Lobby is promoting

The Carbon Fee and Dividend Act to "avert catastrophic climate change 

while at the same time shielding Americans from the financial impact 

of transitioning to a clean-energy economy".

This series is part of my contribution to education about climate change. 

The idea for this series on Wildoak Living was born 

during an interview I did with Dr. Peter Joseph in early 2012.

He inspired me to check out the The Climate Reality Project, 

founded and chaired by former Vice President and Nobel Laureate Al Gore.

In August of 2012, I was trained by Al Gore and The Climate Reality Project

to educate about climate change and became one of the 

more than 4000 volunteer climate leaders.

Tune in to WILDOAK LIVING, the radio program

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in Mendocino County and beyond.

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