At 18/08/01 11:47 -0700, Ian wroted:
>So the new energy markets will open up sooner rather than later, and
>non-U.S. energy companies will reap the new global opportunities.
>Moreover, the international emissions trading exchange that would
>naturally have been based in the U.S. will probably be located in
>London instead.
I agree. Very interesting article!
And as for the point above, the UK government has just announced that it is
bringing forward to next year a prototype scheme for trading in carbon
emissions. The EU is preparing for 2005. Although it will be voluntary at
first, and dominated by companies that want to sell polluting rights, which
will therefore be very cheap, it is a start. It is typical of the
systematic, calm, opportunistic appraisal of power politics that is
central to New Labour's thinking. But it also illustrates how the rational
pursuit of self interest, can pave the way for more enlightened solutions,
in the way Spinoza envisages.
Most significant of all is that this has been presenting as a quiet issue,
publicised deep in the middle of the holiday season. It is in the context
that England always sees itself as located somewhere in the Atlantic closer
to the USA than to France. Yet these measures show that on pollution at
least Britain is clearly throwing in its hand with the European philosophy
of socially managed capitalism. It will intend to reap the global
opportunities too.
Chris Burford
London
