The Story of Cap & Trade

 

by Marianne Nouwens

A defining moment. Written by Annie Leonard.

Now that’s a discussion!

The Story of Cap & Trade from Story of Stuff Project on Vimeo.

On blogs and list serves, in living rooms and classrooms around the country today, people are talking about, debating, and yes, critiquing our new short film.

Why the story of Cap & Trade?

We made The Story of Cap & Trade  to encourage a real discussion about how to solve the enormous climate challenges we face. If there was ever an issue that merited broad, even heated public debate, this is it. I’d far rather people argue about cap and trade and other policy options than ignore them or silently go along with the crowd, even when our guts tell us the solution on the table is inadequate.

We’re at a defining moment here. Defining in terms of planetary survival. Defining in terms of the kind of democratic governance we have in this country.

In doing my research for The Story of Cap & Trade, I heard many longtime trusted friends tell me “I know cap and trade isn’t enough, but it is the best we can get in this political climate” or “we can’t get something stronger past business.”

Excuse me, but who is running this country, this world? The people or the coal companies?

The entire planetary ecosystem and the lives of billions of people are at stake, and we’re accepting the conventional wisdom that we can’t get a real solution past big business? That it’s too late? That the train has left the station?

If there is public support for a strong law to cap and tax carbon pollution, why are our leaders advancing weaker and riskier schemes that rely on the market to solve the problem?

It’s business as usual.

Now, I’m not against business. In fact, I am thrilled by the environmental and social innovations of many businesses today and I am a firm believer that businesses have to be part of the solution as we transition to a sustainable and just economy.

But let’s admit it, some companies just aren’t hip to that program. Some are more about protecting the bottom line than then planet.

If there was ever a time to draw a line in the sand, to say we’re not compromising our future and the planet to protect business as usual, this is that moment.

Enough of accepting ‘better than terrible.’

Demand strong solutions.

The stronger the demands for real solutions - solutions that achieve ecological sustainability and do so fairly - the easier it will be for those in the political process to inch in that direction too. Let’s continue this discussion, welcome the voices of those most impacted by climate change, invite in businesses that are serious about sustainability and encourage our leaders to lead.

This is a defining moment.

About the Film

The Story of Cap & Trade is a fast-paced, fact-filled look at the leading climate solution being discussed at Copenhagen and on Capitol Hill. Host Annie Leonard introduces the energy traders and Wall Street financiers at the heart of this scheme and reveals the “devils in the details” in current cap and trade proposals: free permits to big polluters, fake offsets and distraction from what’s really required to tackle the climate crisis. If you’ve heard about cap and trade, but aren’t sure how it works (or who benefits), this is the film is for you.

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