Cedars, October 2018

October 2018 6 OFF CAMPUS States is caught in a catch-22 when it comes to these efforts. If the U.S. denies the restrictions imposed by a global climate agreement, other nations are incentivized to increase their production and pollution to fill the competitive gap left by the scaling back of the American economic contribution. How- ever, if the U.S. accepts carbon restrictions, other nations are still incentivized to increase their output to compete with American industry. Yet, according to Gathany, the environmental externali- ties associated with continuing to do “business as usual” have consequences that increase with every year they are left unad- dressed. As of Syria’s signing in 2017, every nation in the world has ratified the Paris Climate Agreement except the United States. While some may view the burden placed on the U.S. as disproportionately heavy, analysis by Yunguang Chen and Marc A.C. Hafstead of Resources for the Future indicates that the esti- mated cost would be only about $20 per citizen per year. Despite this, the current administration has declared its intent to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Climate Agree- ment in early 2019 (the soonest it is legally allowed to do so). So instead, Clauson favors a domestic solution that revolves around economists’ favorite word: incentives. “What you need is some kind of set of institutional ar- rangements that will provide the right incentives for the right behavior that will lead to the right kinds of outcomes over a long period,” Clauson said. According to Clauson, the key to effective environmental policy is giving businesses a sense of ownership over environ- mental resources. This looks different for different types and siz- es of businesses, Clauson acknowledged, and will require careful thought for individual cases rather than the broad, bureaucratic solutions that are often proposed and often problematic. Yet as challenging as this is, there’s also another group of nations that tend to suffer disproportionately when it comes to drafting global climate standards, even more than the United States. It’s the same group that also tends to receive the brunt of climate change’s effects: the least developed countries. According to Clauson, these nations often have standards imposed on them by international bodies due to their depen- dence on foreign aid. However, excessive climate restrictions also limit these nations’ ability to economically advance, which can lock them in the cycle of poverty. Yet maybe the opposite approach would be even more effective at addressing both cli- mate change and the economic struggles of these less devel- oped countries: opening trade and increasing investment. “The trend is that as nations get wealthier, they are much more concerned about environmental protection,” Clauson said. “In the long run, there will be a reduction in pollution over- all, which should reduce global warming if it’s man-made. The question is, as always, how long do you want to wait? Which is more costly, in terms of lives and of human flourishing?” In the end, many of the discussions around climate change come down to this question. Which is more costly, regulating emissions or risking greater natural disasters around the world? Which is more costly, converting to clean energy or adjusting to droughts? Which is more costly, taking a chance on a global cli- mate agreement or genetically engineering crops to adjust to new harsh conditions? Which is more costly, creating technolo- gy to mitigate climate change or finding newways to adapt to it? All of this depends on each person’s views on what cli- mate change is, how it is caused, and what its future effects may be. Clearly, there are still more questions than answers on these topics. Still, Jones encouraged believers to let bibli- cal principles guide their thinking and their discussion, wher- ever they land on this issue. “As believers, we have been guilty at times of allowing our political allegiances to cloud our biblical thinking,” Jones said. “We are first and foremost citizens of God’s kingdom … and we are reminded that we work His creation for His honor and glory.” Breanna Beers is a sophomore molecular and cellular biol- ogy major and the interim off-campus news editor for Ce- dars. She loves exercising curiosity, hiking new trails, and quoting “The Princess Bride” whether it’s relevant or not. Dr. Sally Schwer Canning Community and Clinical Child Psychologist trainer psychologist wheaton.edu/PsychService On the front lines, Dr. Sally Canning is a fighter for social change. She is committed to training psychologists and counselors for the benefit of serving poor and urban populations. Join a Psy.D. Program where 100% of studentsmatchedwith pre-doctoral internships every year since 2013. community champion