Critical Writing Assignment: Confronting Climate Change

Over the last several decades human-induced climate change has been a growing concern throughout the world with some experts and citizens now claiming we are facing an imminent climate crisis. Much of the focus has been on the impacts of climate change on the natural environment, but increasingly the focus has turned to how climate change impacts human lives and what measures we can take to combat climate change. Most experts believe that national and international policies are needed to confront climate change head on, rather than relying on individuals to make ethical decisions to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

Increasingly economists have entered the debate by arguing that climate change is an example of market failure, and that the best way to account for that failure is to put a price on carbon. See the lectures in this week’s unit on the humanized landscape for a look at the causes and consequences of climate change and some policy solutions, then read the following articles for further clarification.

Here is a brief explanation of climate change as an example of market failure: https://www.lse.ac.uk/granthaminstitute/explainers/why-do-economists-describe-climate-change-as-a-market-failure/

This explains how carbon pricing can account for the market failure: https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1089/sus.2018.0011

Now, write a 450-550 word essay in which you make an argument for or against a national policy in the United States to combat climate change using carbon pricing.

Include the following your essay:

1) Provide evidence from an outside source of the economic costs of climate change, either to the nation or the world. Try to find a dollar estimate of the costs while keeping in mind that it is difficult to accurately calculate such costs.

2) Explain how these costs are an example of market failure (i.e. demonstrate that you understand the concept of environmental externality).

3) Use a second outside source to propose a solution to the problem of climate change.

a. Does your solution use carbon pricing in some form? How would it reduce greenhouse gas emissions?

b. If your solution does not use carbon pricing, why do you think it is a better approach to reducing greenhouse gas emissions?

As with all essays, make sure that you cite your sources with the (source, year) in the text and a link at the end. And don’t forget to include a clear and detailed thesis statement early in the essay.