C1 Advanced (CAE) - Cross Text Multiple Matching 6

Tackling Climate Change

A
As an environmental economist, I'm convinced that carbon pricing remains our most powerful tool for addressing climate change. The fundamental problem is that the market fails to account for the true cost of carbon emissions. By implementing a robust carbon tax, we can harness market forces to drive innovation and behavioral change naturally. Critics argue this burdens ordinary citizens, but the solution is simple: return the revenue directly to households through dividend payments. This approach has proven effective in several countries, reducing emissions while protecting lower-income families. The alternative – relying on voluntary behavior change or technological breakthroughs – is dangerously optimistic. Only when burning fossil fuels impacts bottom lines will businesses and individuals make meaningful changes.

B
My research in behavioral psychology suggests that focusing on economic incentives alone misunderstands human nature. People don't make decisions purely on financial grounds – social norms and personal values play crucial roles. Rather than punitive measures like carbon taxes, we should emphasize positive change through community engagement and education. I've observed remarkable emissions reductions in communities where environmental responsibility becomes a shared value. Furthermore, heavy-handed government intervention often triggers psychological reactance, making people resist change. Instead, we need to make low-carbon choices feel aspirational and personally meaningful. The solution lies in changing hearts and minds, not just adjusting market signals.

C
From an engineering perspective, we're placing too much emphasis on changing individual behavior when industrial-scale technological solutions exist. Carbon capture and storage (CCS), enhanced natural carbon sinks, and next-generation nuclear power could reduce emissions dramatically without requiring massive lifestyle changes. The notion that individual sacrifices will solve climate change is both politically unrealistic and mathematically inadequate. We need to focus on scalable technological solutions that can be implemented rapidly. While behavioral changes and carbon pricing may help, they cannot deliver the magnitude of emissions reductions required within our rapidly closing window of opportunity.

D
As a climate policy researcher, I see the debate between behavioral change, carbon pricing, and technological solutions as fundamentally misguided. We need all these approaches simultaneously, but implemented within a comprehensive regulatory framework. The success of renewable energy demonstrates how government mandates, technological advancement, and changing consumer preferences can work together. However, we're running out of time for gradual transitions. We need binding emissions caps on industries, massive public investment in green infrastructure, and yes, carbon pricing – but these must be implemented alongside strong social support programs. The climate crisis demands a wartime-scale mobilization of resources and political will.