review: policies for a clean future - electrical appliance suppliers

Jim skea energy policy and greenhouse effect Volume 1: michael Grubb, policy assessment, Royal Institute of International Affairs/Dartmouth Press, p. 294, p. 16.
99. with the convening of 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development and possible climate conferences, diplomats and policy makers have begun to focus on the economic and industrial impacts of controlling greenhouse gas emissions.
No economic sector is going to be more affected than the energy sector, so Michael Graham's book represents a timely attempt to solve the problem.
He gave an admirable and clear account of the key issues faced by governments in implementing their desire to freeze or reduce energy.
Greenhouse gas emissions.
In fact, the book is much more ambitious than its title suggests.
In addition to the analysis of energy policies, there are expanded articles on diversified pricing and tax policies and the challenges of ensuring international environmental agreements.
The chapters of this book cover energy usage trends, carbon tax Economics (
Tax on carbon dioxide production), end-
Efficiency of use, structure of energy supply, prediction of energy and greenhouse challenges identified by Grubb as major.
There is also a section on "The development of energy services" that is a bit of a wrong name.
It turned out to be bad, though interesting, but covered the changing role of electricity utilities, transport policies, development in industrial processes and products, and the energy needs of developing countries.
The great advantage of the book is that Grubb's clear prose and his apparent desire to discuss directly the controversy over the current debate in the energy sector.
His book is the first of two volumes to summarize the research on the greenhouse effect of the Energy and Environment Project of the Royal Institute of International Affairs (RIIA).
Volume II national research and technology options will cover research on the potential of carbon dioxide emissions reduction in six countries (
UK, US, Japan, Soviet Union, China and India).
At the time of writing, this has not yet appeared.
Even if there is one, the reader will find the number of forward references from Volume 1 to volume 2 frustrating.
It is also regrettable that the first volume contains only two rather unclear charts summarizing the results of the case study.
By some editing and rearranging the material-perhaps by merging the two volumes-the publication may be more satisfactory.
The index will also help, given the scope of the book.
Despite these doubts, this book is very useful for those who want to go deep into the surface, because most books about the greenhouse effect just skim the surface.
The author has his own views on most of the disputes he deals with, hoping to present both sides of the argument before presenting his own, pleasant, pragmatic views.
One of the sensitive and important issues of Grubb's choice of his approach is the "amazing" disagreement on the 2050 energy forecast, which is 10 times different globally.
In the chapter entitled "energy futures in green housing", he sorts out the differences between high-rise
Reduce the forecast of macroeconomic modelers and elaborate on the "bottom --
Predictions usually made by engineers and scientists.
Grubb pointed out that the two methods have different and complementary views on this issue.
Each point of view, if constructive, provides useful insights.
He also pointed out that energy analysts have little to no quantitative policy measures on the impact of energy demand.
Therefore, one can argue about measures such as insulation resistance or the introduction of electrical appliance efficiency labels, but no one has any real understanding of the consumer's response and the degree of energy conservation.
In the early chapters of "economy, price, and taxation", he explores issues related to the economic impact of carbon taxes.
Some simulation experiments predict that the huge carbon tax needed to change consumer behavior could severely curb economic growth.
However, most studies have shown that the economic effect of a carbon tax will be small or even beneficial if other types of taxes can be reduced.
Grubb read the arguments in favor and against carefully.
The author's enthusiasm may exceed his thoughtful judgment in only two areas.
One problem is that renewable energy-Cinderella's choice-Grubb is optimistic on this issue, but it is not clear the mechanisms that contribute to the promotion of renewable energy.
The second, which appears in the final chapter on the "Greenhouse Challenge", is to advocate for international rental emission permits as a means of implementing the international "paid for by polluters" principle.
While the rest of the book is firmly grounded in real politics, the practical difficulties of the book are far less important than the theoretical interests.
But let's not complain too much about it.
Grubb has produced admirable and extensive
One of our books on environmental courses at the University of Sussex will definitely be recommended to our students.
The average reader wants to know more about energy-
The environment interface will also find this book accessible. Jim siquilla is a senior researcher in Science Policy Research at the University of Sussex.