Amos Baehr Amos.Baehr@uvm.edu Graduate Research Assistant, Masters Program Relationship with MIMES: Participant in workgroups 6 (Ecosystem Services Website) and 9 (Broader Participation and Public Interface), Participated in the organization of the October ‘06 and July ‘07 conferences. Contact: 617 Main Street, Burlington VT, 05446 Phone: 802-656-8289 |
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Amos worked with UVM faculty and citizen groups to create a series of events in January, as part of the legislative focus on climate change, to inform and analyze opportunities for incorporating the idea of "common assets" into various solutions. The event centered around hosting Peter Barnes (author of "Who Owns the Sky") with talks before the legislature, citizen groups and the university community. One key idea being analyzed is the option for capping carbon emissions. This is a mechanism to guarantee a steady decline in emissions before the so-called "greenhouse effect" takes full effect. If carbon emissions are capped, then the state of Vermont cap can auction off a finite number of permits annually and let companies who need them buy or trade them with one another. The number of permits would be reduced each year, making them more and more valuable. The state, in turn, would use the proceeds from the permit sales to give rebates to consumers or make direct investments in conservation and fuel-efficiency programs. Amos is developing a policy briefing around these and other issues that emerged from the event and its discussions.
