Britain should go ahead with a carbon-credit trading system for individuals, a committee of Members of Parliament has recommended. The system could be modeled on cap-and-trade programs for industry, setting a cap on the amount of carbon each person is allowed to emit and requiring those who would exceed their allotment to purchase credits from those who emit less. Activities such as using gasoline, consuming electricity, and flying would require use of carbon credits. The MPs predicted strong public opposition to the scheme, but called for the government to be “courageous” and pursue it anyway. “Personal carbon trading could be essential in helping to reduce our national carbon footprint,” the committee said in a report. “Further work is needed before personal carbon trading can be a viable policy option and this must be started urgently, and in earnest.” Some environmentalists support the idea, saying it’s more progressive than taxation and would encourage people to carefully consider their energy usage.
