A cap and trade system sounds like additional taxes on businesses - right at a time when our economy is crumbling.

Also, this cap and trade system will involve creating more government agencies - bigger government.

We'll lose our sovereignty if the WTO is involved. Now we'll have the almighty WTO standing over us (a bunch of Swedish Volvo drivers with patches on their jackets) telling us what we can and can't do in our own country.

How about making agreements that are strictly voluntary? Do we need more coercive taxes, big government and the WTO adding to our woes right now?

Voluntary measures won't get us to where we need to go fast enough. This is going to be tough -- no doubt about it, but our grandchildren are worth it, wouldn't you say?

One of the Key Climate Policy Events of 2009 listed by Schuchard is the World Business Summit on Climate Change. This event, convened by the Copenhagen Climate Council, is the single best opportunity this year for business to influence the shaping of the treaty to succeed the Kyoto Protocol. Read more about the Summit here: http://www.copenhagenclimatecouncil.com/world-business-summit.html

Note that the Canadian government has strictly regulated banks and they have suffered very little in the recent recession. Government has to control the greed of a few for the benefit of society at large. Taxes are necessary for a civil society to function. Want a tax-free society - why not move to Somalia or Congo? Societies with the highest tax rates often have the highest literacy, longevity, etc. Denmark is a great example.

The Los Angeles Times recently had an excellent article on what is happening in Australia right now as a result of global warming. Mandatory reading for all doubters. There is no time to waste in controlling emissions.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-climate-change-austr...

As the Economist has pointed out, Kyoto, Copenhagen’s 2001 predecessor, was a “bust up.” The actual deal wasn’t completed until another meeting the following year. Thus, Copenhagen is just one stop -- albeit one with a big agenda -- along a road of continuous negotiations.

Mike - the driver robot and power4home dude.