Limit your carbon
The RSAs Carbon Limited project is trying to convince MPs to enter into an individual Emissions Trading Scheme, which works just like the dysfunctional EU ETS scheme. An individual scheme gives everyone equal numbers of carbon credits, which are used up each time we consume energy. If we run out we can buy more credits, if we have a surplus we can sell them.
However it has equality problems. Poor people are more likely to live in poorly insulated housing, therefore their energy costs may be higher. People with higher incomes may have the spare cash to pay for insulation, reduce their emissions and therefore make money out of the scheme. Let’s show some of these inequalities with an example:
David Miliband has already joined the scheme. According to the CarbonDAQ, Miliband’s emissions are below the 5 tonnes of CO2 prescribed as a maximum (he’s on about 3.5 tonnes). Luckily for him the scheme only includes personal energy use, and doesn’t include all the official travel he does.
As you can see in the first diagram below (produced by CarbonDAQ so you can have a go yourself) - my once yearly (well deserved) holiday produces much more CO2 than Miliband’s. Apparently Miliband’s not flying on holiday next year. This year he flew to Ireland.
My car journeys (to get to work) are also consume more CO2. No ministerial car for me.
My household energy consumption is high, although I do share a house with 3 other people:
Overall Miliband wins!
So just like in real life, ministers are better off than me. Based on current prices, Miliband will make around £12.50 out of the scheme - a new gravy train for ministers!
October 16th, 2006 at 10:52 pm
I just beat Miliband (no car, 1 flight, shared house). The whole calculation is pretty unconvincing - there’s no accounting for eg. food miles. Being entirely freed of the responsibility for your work travel also strikes me as being a bit iffy - if you make money from something surely you should have to pay for it.