| Cap and Trade for Water Quality |
|
Only for Water
While many of us may have heard of the Cap and Trade system as an
economic incentive to help reduce the amount of carbon dioxide
being released into the atmosphere, not as many of us are familiar
with another Cap and Trade system suggested as an economic
incentive for other areas of environmental quality- Water.
In an effort to fight global warming, about 174 nations have ratified the Kyoto accords in order to reduce carbon levels, shown to strongly correlate with global climate change. The United States Congress is also working on legislation to “mitigate the effects of black carbon emissions in the United States and throughout the world” in the bill H.R.1760 - Black Carbon Emissions Reduction Act of 2009. The Clean Air Act passed in 1970 was a great step in the direction of improving air quality, as we realized the environmental and health hazards that occur due to the emissions of certain particulates into the atmosphere. The Clean Air Act has since been amended, in 1977 and in 1990, for further improvements. On the other hand, water quality has also played an important role in environment and health. The Clean Water Act was passed in 1972, formerly known as the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, with amendments for improvements in 1977. Much like the Clean Air Act, there is still room for improvement as many unforeseen shortfalls allow loopholes which thwart our goals at clean and drinkable waters. The Water Quality Cap and Trade system is much like that for carbon dioxide emission reduction. However, it focuses on nutrient pollution and sedimentation, measured in units of Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL) of pollutants allowed to be discharged into our waterways. Each participant in this system will be allotted a maximum amount of discharge, and any amount of pollution not released becomes a pollution credit that may be sold to other participants who may not have the financial or technological ability to reduce their total pollutant discharge. Thus, an incentive is created to reduce pollution output because (1) the levels participants are allowed to emit are reduced, and (2) the less participants emit, the more money they maymake by selling pollution credits to others. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) supports this incentive system, and believes that it will be an effective way to help reduce pollution in our waterways for a healthier, more balanced environment. Benefits include cleaner water for wildlife, recreation, aesthetics, and consumption for drinking. We worry so much about how much water is available to us for our use, but often forget how we as individuals, and collectively, adversely affect the quality of the water we need to survive. A Cap and Trade system for Water Quality may just be a great step in economizing environmental benefits, with room for improvement, I’m sure. Veronica Saavedra- Intern |
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
Public Trust Environmental Legal Institute of Florida, Inc
2029 North Third Street
Jacksonville Beach
Florida 32250
(904) 247-1972 x418
Copyright © 2008 - Public Trust Environmental Legal Institute Of Florida - Designed by Ocean Web Design
