EP11 - Climate Change and Carbon Trading ft. Kate Ervine

Introduction to Political Economy

Although many regions of the world are declaring success in reducing the carbon emissions that cause climate change, overall global carbon emissions have gone up and not down. Is it crafty accounting that allows regions like the European Union to say they have reduced emissions? Even if emissions have gone down, they’re nowhere near on course to meet the targets set by global scientists for 2030 so that we can avoid even greater climate catastrophe than we are on course for now. So, what are the mechanisms that these governments are adopting to deal with the issue of carbon mitigation and reducing emissions? What do these mechanisms have to do with markets and trading? And will they ultimately be sufficient?

I'm joined by Dr. Kate Ervine, author of Carbon, to discuss these questions.

Music by Zobu.