FEASTA Annual Lecture: Climate Solutions - Peter Barnes

dublin | environment | event notice Tuesday October 30, 2007 12:12 by PaddyK2

On November 13th, the Feasta Annual Lecture will take place in the Emmet Theatre, the Arts Block, Trinity College at 7.30 pm.

This year's speaker is successful US social entrepreneur and author Peter Barnes. Peter's work explores how a "cap and rebate" system is our best bet for an ethical and economic framework to stabilise the climate. His previous career has ranged from setting up one of the first solar energy companies in California to pioneering the use of charity credit cards and ethical phone services at "http://www.workingassets.com"

A "cap and rebate" system would "pay" citizens and communities substantial sums of money every year to benefit from rapidly rising carbon prices. It equitably shares out the value of the production authorisation permits needed by fossil fuel companies under a fast declining carbon cap.

A similar approach called "http://www.capandshare.org" is beginning to attract attention in Europe, initially championed in Ireland by Feasta. It is currently being studied by Comhar, the Irish Sustainable Development Council, and by Green Party Environment Minister John Gormley as a way to control Ireland's non-EUETS emissions.

Peter also explores the need for a strong new independent "Third Sector of Commons' Trusts" in the economy with the remit of protecting and sharing out the benefits of commons such as the atmosphere - so overcoming the "tragedy of the commons".

Peter's new short book, Climate Solutions : "A Citizen's Guide - What Works, What Doesn't and Why", will be published in November 2007, both in print and
as a free download. His previous book, Capitalism 3.0, is also available to download for free at "http://www.capitalism3.com".

FEASTA
The Foundation for the Economics of Sustainability
10a Lr Camden Street
Dublin 2
Ireland