A Simple Analogy of CDM and Carbon Trade

Inspired from Torry Kuswardono's argument during discussion on climate change, CDM & carbon trade in National University, Jakarta, December 17, 2005

There are fifteen people live in a finite and closed room, where four of which are very rich and keep smoking cigars, as this associates with a wealthy lifestyle. The other appeal the four to stop smoking, or at least to reduce its frequency, since it makes the room hotter and certain uneasiness to breath. The trees planted in the room are quite overwhelmed to absorb CO2 exhaled by fifteen people. The trees are obviously not able to absorb more, beside the cigar's CO2 is somewhat a compound that cannot be absorbed by the trees. So then they set up sessions to talk about a strategy on how to make the room's atmosphere better.

The talk came up with deliberated consensus. The rich smokers should reduce their smoking frequency, varied among the fours, based on their wealths. Other idea was a compensation scheme to the other population. Among the four they made a deal on reduction and compensation, which is not satisfying the others. In order to avoid modifying their behaviour, the four came up with idea of paying the poors with projects equal to the agreed smoking reduction. Any kind of projects as long as their highly smoking behaviour won't be altered.

The room is still a finite and closed one. There's no way of enlarging the room nor to add more trees. Besides, planting new trees wouldn't resolve the problem since CO2 from cigars cannot be absorbed. The only solution is to stop smoking behaviour of the four.

Read more... Sphere: Related Content