Critical Summary #3

docx

School

Wilfrid Laurier University *

*We aren’t endorsed by this school

Course

225

Subject

Economics

Date

Jan 9, 2024

Type

docx

Pages

Uploaded by LieutenantSkunk3883

Helly shah 169070364 Professor Byron Williston November 23, 2023 Word count: 520 Question: Explain the polluter pays principle (PPP) as it applies to climate change. In your view, is this principle adequate to help us grasp how to share the costs of climate clean up in an ethically defensible way? Does it need to be supplemented by other principles, or perhaps abandoned altogether? Explain your reasoning. The Polluter Pays Principle suggests is a guiding environmental policy that assigns responsibility and financial liability for the costs of pollution to those who are directly responsible for it. The polluter pays principle is an ethical approach to determining the underlying factors of climate change and looking at major contributors by holding “liable to be assigned in proportion to actual responsibility” (Williston,81). The polluter pays principle analyzes that a large majority of people who are affected come from an inequality of “power and resources” due to the capitalist system in place (Williston, 77). To elaborate further, the principle states major contributors who “benefit from those institutions that are morally obligated to provide compensation” yet fails to the recognize this (Williston,81). The application to PPP to climate change involves financial accountability, incentivizing responsibility and legal and regulatory frameworks. Entities or industries that emit significant greenhouse gasses are expected to pay for measures aimed at reducing emissions, implementing cleaner technologies, or funding initiatives for climate mitigation and adaption. By making polluters financially liable for their emissions, the PPP aims to encourage a shift towards more sustainable practises. This

principle incentivizes the adoption of eco-friendly technologies and processes to minimize future environmental harm. Government and regulatory bodies can implement policies and regulations based on the PPP to hold polluters accountable. Climate change is a complex, global issue driven by cumulative greenhouse gas emissions. It’s challenging to trace emissions to individual polluters due to the widespread and interconnected nature of emissions across various sectors and regions over time. Climate change demands collective action and cooperation on a global scale. The PPP doesn’t account for historical emissions or the disproportionate contributions of different nations and entities to climate change. It might unfairly burden developing nations or vulnerable communities that have historically emitted fewer greenhouse gasses but faces the harshest impacts (Williston, 81). Simply, making polluters pay for their emissions might not sufficiently incentivize the transition to sustainable practises, especially in industries heavily reliant on fossil fuels. It could lead to resistance or insufficient motivation to adopt costly but environmentally friendly technologies. According to me, none of the 3 principles should be adopted, that is, Beneficiary pays principle (BPP), Polluter Pays Principle (PPP), nor the Ability to pay principle (APP) should be adopted. By adopting the PPP principle, climate change will make poor countries even poorer as they scramble to pay for damage cleanup or, if this too expensive, simple leave basic infrastructure – bridges, schools, electricity plants, houses, highways, etc.-to crumble and rot (Williston, 84). By adopting BPP, those who have harmed the environment or those who have caused the climate change does not pay which is completely unfair. By adopting the APP, the countries that have ability to pay must pay even though they their contribution in the climatic change is less than those who do not have ability to pay. This is also unfair.

I would argue that in the case of climatic change, all the countries together must solve and compensate this issue and try to bring positive changes in the environment collectively in order to save the mother nature and mother earth.

Your preview ends here

Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version

Access to all documents
Unlimited textbook solutions
24/7 expert homework help

Related Documents

MAT 240 Module Three Assignment Template.docx

MAT 240 Project Two Template.docx

ch23 copy.docx

MAT 240 Module Two Assignment Template.docx

Ch20 copy.docx

4-2 Scenario Analysis- Cars Sold.docx

test1-MC-solutions.pdf

Test2-MC-Solutions.pdf

Recommended textbooks for you

Microeconomics A Contemporary Intro

Economics

ISBN:9781285635101

Author:MCEACHERN

Publisher:Cengage

Essentials of Economics (MindTap Course List)

Economics

ISBN:9781337091992

Author:N. Gregory Mankiw

Publisher:Cengage Learning

Micro Economics For Today

Economics

ISBN:9781337613064

Author:Tucker, Irvin B.

Publisher:Cengage,

Economics For Today

Economics

ISBN:9781337613040

Author:Tucker

Publisher:Cengage Learning

Principles of Microeconomics

Economics

ISBN:9781305156050

Author:N. Gregory Mankiw

Publisher:Cengage Learning

Principles of Microeconomics (MindTap Course List)

Economics

ISBN:9781305971493

Author:N. Gregory Mankiw

Publisher:Cengage Learning

SEE MORE TEXTBOOKS

Recommended textbooks for you

Microeconomics A Contemporary Intro
Economics
ISBN:9781285635101
Author:MCEACHERN
Publisher:Cengage
Essentials of Economics (MindTap Course List)
Economics
ISBN:9781337091992
Author:N. Gregory Mankiw
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Micro Economics For Today
Economics
ISBN:9781337613064
Author:Tucker, Irvin B.
Publisher:Cengage,
Economics For Today
Economics
ISBN:9781337613040
Author:Tucker
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Principles of Microeconomics
Economics
ISBN:9781305156050
Author:N. Gregory Mankiw
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Principles of Microeconomics (MindTap Course List)
Economics
ISBN:9781305971493
Author:N. Gregory Mankiw
Publisher:Cengage Learning