International Legislation

The truth is that reducing emissions will cost money, and we need to invest in research and policies that promote clean energy products. However, many countries are hesitant to cut emissions because it can result in higher costs for things like gas and heating oil. The problem is not that people in these countries don't care about the climate, but rather they are concerned about the cost of solutions.

One solution to the problem is for countries to set ambitious goals and stick to them, like what was done with the Paris Agreement in 2015. These international agreements can help push national governments to take action and reduce emissions.

What happens if some countries refuse to participate? It's difficult to hold a country accountable for their emissions, but it's not impossible. For example, countries with a carbon tax can make sure that the tax is applied to both domestically made products and imported products. Governments can also make it clear that they won't have trade agreements or partnerships with countries that don't prioritize reducing emissions. In other words, countries can say to each other, "If you want to do business with us, you need to take climate change seriously." However, allowances should be made for low-income countries where the priority is to grow their economy.

Gates, Bill. How to Avoid a Climate Disaster (p. 214-216). Penguin Books Ltd. Kindle Edition.