When: 7 to 9 pm, Wednesday, May 16
Where: Corvallis-Benton County Public Library,
Despite tree planting programs, advances in renewable energy and
appeals to use public transportation instead of personal vehicles,
carbon continues to accumulate in the atmosphere. While useful for other
reasons, efforts to stem greenhouse gas emissions have failed to put
carbon dioxide, a major contributor to global warming, on a course
toward lower levels.
Climate change experts and economists have proposed a solution: Put a
price on carbon emitted to the atmosphere from the burning of fossil
fuels and allow market forces to slow the runaway carbon train. Such a
policy could be implemented several ways: a system known as cap and
trade, a tax on carbon emissions, or a carbon fee and dividend with
revenues returned to citizens.
Economists have advocated putting a price on carbon for decades,
joined more recently by international organizations such as the World
Bank and the International Monetary Fund. As of January 2018, carbon
pricing policies have been implemented in more than 40 national,
subnational, or multi-national jurisdictions.
At the May 16 City Club of Corvallis meeting, three local experts
will discuss the pros and cons of carbon pricing in the context of the
nature and scope of the climate change problem. They include Carla Wise,
biologist and environmental writer, and two Oregon State University
faculty members: Phil Harding, Linus Pauling Distinguished Engineer in
the College of Engineering; and Bill Jaeger, professor in the Department
of Applied Economics.
Carla
Wise is a plant conservation biologist turned environmental writer and
climate solutions advocate. She has written on topics including forest
management, endangered species, agriculture, and climate change. Her
writng has appeared in The Oregonian, High Country News, The Huffington Post, The Utne Reader and elsewhere. She is author of Awake on Earth: Facing Climate Change with Sanity and Grace (2016) and volunteers with Citizens’ Climate Lobby.
Phil
Harding brings 15 years of industrial and business experience to roles
as Linus Pauling Distinguished Engineer and Associated School Head of
chemical engineering at OSU. He worked in the oil, pulp and paper and
microelectronic industries with responsibilities in process engineering,
research and development, product reliability and worldwide
manufacturing and research strategy. He is a certified Professional
Engineer and holds 15 patents. His most recent full-time industrial role
was serving as a Master Technologist for HP.
Bill
Jaeger is a professor in the Department of Applied Economics, where he
specializes in policy issues related to water, climate, land use and
agriculture. He has been a Fulbright Scholar at the University of
Venice, Italy, has taught at Williams College, the University of
Washington, University of Oregon and has been a research economist and
consultant to the World Bank. He serves on the board of directors of
ELAW, the Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide.
The meeting is free and open to the public and will begin at 7 p.m.,
Wednesday, May 16 at the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library. No
registration is necessary.
