Clean Tech Investment More Effective than Emissions Targets
August 20, 2009 - Supporting clean technology industries could result in more environmental benefit than setting emissions targets for the fastest growing nations, according to the Center for Clear Air Policy.
The study from the center (CCAP) is premised on two concepts. First, for the majority of developing nations to set limits on emissions, they must be able to measure current emissions and outputs. Many nations just do not have that ability. The second is that it is much easier to ascertain how many companies in a given sector are using a specific energy saving technology, and that it is much easier to predict savings based on this technology use. For example, information on the energy savings of CFL's is quite common, whereas information on a counties industrial output may be non-existent.
The report focuses on a few energy intensive industries in China; cement, iron and steel. The approach is called "reasonably practical, not theoretically optimal." There are critics of the method, saying that hard emissions caps are the most effective method and that the approach does not promote the most efficient use of technology.
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