The first step towards sustainability- changing values and expectations through ecotaxation policy

                With recent discussion in the United States and abroad about possible policy responses to climate change focusing on “cap and trade,” where select polluters will be issued a quota of permits corresponding to a maximum amount of carbon dioxide, and the ability to trade them among themselves to work out the least possible cost of abatement, now is an excellent time to look at deeper reforms, reforms that address the fundamental issues and causes of our current crisis in a way that sets our economy, and indeed our society and civilization as a whole, on the right long-term track. Instead of attempting to mitigate the end result (too much CO2), we need to examine what actions and practices got us here, and what else needs to be addressed beyond CO2 in order to stabilize the earth’s climate, and have a truly sustainable society.