How to handle a finite world: Cap and Trade
The world is in a clear transition, a transition that is so full of uncertainties that it is not yet clear where we will end up. Will it be a catastrophe, a dystopia, or a utopia? What 'system change' is needed? What is the nature of the transition? Will this be the end of capitalism, growth, democracy, freedom? From a great distance, the transition can be interpreted as follows : for two centuries we have known seemingly limitless (and exponential) growth and progress. Yet there were indeed boundaries that were limited unnoticed (?) and they are now breaking us down. The earth is finite. The atmosphere is finite. Fresh water is finite. The Netherlands is finite. It is the confrontation with these finitudes that causes the transition. And there is only one answer: We will have to adapt our society and learn to deal with finitudes by drawing boundaries and making choices. That is the task for the Netherlands and the world. Most economists are advocating new tariffs ...