[PASSED] Promotion of Clean Energy

[Mousebumples]

Environmental, All Businesses

The World Assembly,

Conscious of the environmental damage that can and does occur when fossil fuels are burned to create energy and the adverse health effects that can develop due to this release of harmful emissions;

Deeply aware of the impermanent nature of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas;

Cognizant of the existence of alternate forms of energy, such as solar, wind, tidal, geothermal, nuclear, and hydro, virtually all of which are clean, renewable, and cost-effective in the long-run;

Praising the fact that some forms of clean energy such as solar photovoltaics can be implemented cheaply on a small-scale in rural areas, and are thus incredibly successful in bringing power to areas that may have lacked it otherwise;

Recognizing that many of our member nations have already researched and implemented efficient and effective ways of harnessing clean energy;

Urges member nations to seek to simultaneously dis-incentivize the usage of fossil fuels and incentivize the usage of clean energies, through methods available to them such as taxation, business and consumer subsidies, active governmental research and involvement, and dissemination of information concerning the advantages of clean energy;

Requires that member nations which have efficient forms of clean energy available to them make a good faith effort to utilize these forms of energy in the most effective means possible;

Implores member nations which have access to superior forms of clean energy to share those technologies with nations that inhabit the same environment, as pollution from fossil fuel usage is non-discriminatory concerning national boundaries;

Encourages member nations to create legislation and policy that works in other ways to decrease the nation's overall carbon footprint, and to continue to seek out new advantageous technologies to increase the sustainability and longevity of their environments.

[Astrolinium]

"Urge, implore, and encourage are weak verbs, 'good faith effort' is a weak phrase, and this draft is attempting to weasel out of actually legislating anything as best as it can without technically violating the rules of this body. Deplorable, nothing more than Nat Sov trash."

[Tinfect]

"The Imperium sees no reason to utilize such 'renewable' sources, when the sole generator of energy used in the Imperium is Fusion. Fusion Reactors are far more efficient than any such 'renewable' sources, and have absolutely no environmental impact, save, perhaps, for the damage caused in the destruction of improperly maintained, or damaged reactors. However, such events have only been experienced by Military Vessels in combat, and have caused no environmental damage.
In conclusion, we will not devote resources to less effective methods of energy generation that provide absolutely no benefit to the Imperium, we are opposed."

[New Vancouvia]

"The Imperium sees no reason to utilize such 'renewable' sources, when the sole generator of energy used in the Imperium is Fusion. Fusion Reactors are far more efficient than any such 'renewable' sources, and have absolutely no environmental impact, save, perhaps, for the damage caused in the destruction of improperly maintained, or damaged reactors. However, such events have only been experienced by Military Vessels in combat, and have caused no environmental damage.
In conclusion, we will not devote resources to less effective methods of energy generation that provide absolutely no benefit to the Imperium, we are opposed."

You're right. The term "clean" instead of "renewable" conveys what we're going for better

[Tinfect]

You're right. The term "clean" instead of "renewable" conveys what we're going for better

"In that case, and with the alterations to the draft, the Imperium offers tentative support."

[Wallenburg]

"The Wallenburgian delegation sees no reason to oppose this proposal."

[Astrolinium]

"The Wallenburgian delegation sees no reason to oppose this proposal."

"Besides the fact that it doesn't actually do anything?"

[Wallenburg]

"The Wallenburgian delegation sees no reason to oppose this proposal."

"Besides the fact that it doesn't actually do anything?"

"I never said that I oppose improvement upon this bill. Even Wallenburg--whose economy relies heavily on the coal industry--would support stronger measures than these to protect the environment."

[Wrapper]

"The Wallenburgian delegation sees no reason to oppose this proposal."

"Besides the fact that it doesn't actually do anything?"

We would be interested in hearing your suggestions on giving this proposal more teeth. That said, we cannot favor anything that would non-negotiably force us to share our clean energy technology, due to its potential for, erm, misuse.

[Tinfect]

"Besides the fact that it doesn't actually do anything?"

We would be interested in hearing your suggestions on giving this proposal more teeth. That said, we cannot favor anything that would non-negotiably force us to share our clean energy technology, due to its potential for, erm, misuse.

"The Imperium is in agreement. While more... active, legislation would be preferable, we cannot support any resolutions that require the Imperium to release our Technologies."

[John Turner]

How about no? This is a colossal waste of time, and energy. Nations are more than capable of deciding this for themselves, without the WA making them.

[Imperium Anglorum]

"Besides the fact that it doesn't actually do anything?"

We would be interested in hearing your suggestions on giving this proposal more teeth. That said, we cannot favor anything that would non-negotiably force us to share our clean energy technology, due to its potential for, erm, misuse.

Agreed. Well, it is either that or not bothering with a replacement.

[Astrolinium]

"Besides the fact that it doesn't actually do anything?"

We would be interested in hearing your suggestions on giving this proposal more teeth. That said, we cannot favor anything that would non-negotiably force us to share our clean energy technology, due to its potential for, erm, misuse.

Well, I'd make just a few simple changes:

"Requires Urges member nations to seek to simultaneously dis-incentivize the usage of fossil fuels and incentivize the usage of clean energies, through methods available to them such as taxation, business and consumer subsidies, active governmental research and involvement, and dissemination of information concerning the advantages of clean, renewable energy;

Requires that member nations which have efficient forms of clean energy available to them make a good faith effort to utilize these forms of energy in the most effective means possible;

Encourages Implores member nations which have access to superior forms of clean energy to share those technologies with nations that inhabit the same environment, as pollution from fossil fuel usage is non-discriminatory concerning national boundaries;

Requires Encourages member nations to create legislation and policy that works in other ways to decrease the nation's overall carbon footprint, and to continue to seek out new advantageous technologies to increase the sustainability and longevity of their environments."

Simply strengthens the resolution.

[New Vancouvia]

Obviously open to suggestions on strengthening it but I suspect the vast majority of nations would prefer a light resolution in this area

[Astrolinium]

Obviously open to suggestions on strengthening it but I suspect the vast majority of nations would prefer a light resolution in this area

The resolution as it stands isn't "light", it's feeble. It doesn't actually make anyone do anything.

[Wallenburg]

Obviously open to suggestions on strengthening it but I suspect the vast majority of nations would prefer a light resolution in this area

The resolution as it stands isn't "light", it's feeble. It doesn't actually make anyone do anything.

Requires that member nations which have efficient forms of clean energy available to them make a good faith effort to utilize these forms of energy in the most effective means possible;

[Astrolinium]

The resolution as it stands isn't "light", it's feeble. It doesn't actually make anyone do anything.

Requires that member nations which have efficient forms of clean energy available to them make a good faith effort to utilize these forms of energy in the most effective means possible;

make a good faith effort

That one phrase neuters the whole clause.

[Wallenburg]

make a good faith effort

That one phrase neuters the whole clause.

How so?

[Astrolinium]

That one phrase neuters the whole clause.

How so?

Because "a good faith effort" in an unquantifiable thing and because GAR #2 already requires this, and so requiring it again is, at best, duplication and, at worst, a covert attempt to let everyone know that nobody's going to care if they don't do anything to satisfy this "requirement".

[We Couldnt Agree On A Name]

In our case, the issues addressed are already addressed through the market(or will be when they become issues) and thus we're already compliant. However we're willing to give our support, since we recognize that many nations still utilize central planning and therefore aren't subject to the same incentives.

However we'd like to recommend few small changes.

Requires that member nations which have efficient forms of clean energy available to them make a good faith effort to utilize these forms of energy in the most effective means possible;

The terms ""reasonable efforts" or "reasonable best efforts" might be more appropriate.

Praising the fact that some forms of clean energy such as solar photovoltaics can be implemented cheaply on a small-scale in rural areas, and are thus incredibly successful in bringing power to areas that may have lacked it otherwise;

Can the word "praising" be replaced with something else? It just seems silly to praise a simple fact.

"Urge, implore, and encourage are weak verbs, 'good faith effort' is a weak phrase, and this draft is attempting to weasel out of actually legislating anything as best as it can without technically violating the rules of this body. Deplorable, nothing more than Nat Sov trash."

It's not that weak. Just weak enough that you're not required to be unreasonable about it.
Too many proposals, in the effort to be "strong" enough, spell out exactly what must be done with no regard for whether these requirements are appropriate in all parties subject to them. The effect is that many nations are required to implement policies that are unreasonable, even counterproductive. Many that cannot comply respond by finding loopholes or simply leaving outright, in which case the legislation is an undeniable failure and may indeed worsen the problem.

[Araraukar]

Too many proposals, in the effort to be "strong" enough

OOC: The problem here comes from the fact that, although Environmental has areas of effect, the mods have said before that All Businesses is basically "Strong", and thus the language and requirements of the proposal should reflect it. The specific categories may have "Mild" strength language. So either this proposal needs to actually make member nations DO something, or it needs to switch area of effect.

[We Couldnt Agree On A Name]

Too many proposals, in the effort to be "strong" enough

OOC: The problem here comes from the fact that, although Environmental has areas of effect, the mods have said before that All Businesses is basically "Strong", and thus the language and requirements of the proposal should reflect it. The specific categories may have "Mild" strength language. So either this proposal needs to actually make member nations DO something, or it needs to switch area of effect.

Could it be changed to "manufacturing" which would be by far the most heavily affected industry?

and it's not like it doesn't make nations do anything Just because "be an unreasonable hard-ass" is not not among the requirements doesn't mean it's weak legislation.

[Separatist Peoples]

OOC: The problem here comes from the fact that, although Environmental has areas of effect, the mods have said before that All Businesses is basically "Strong", and thus the language and requirements of the proposal should reflect it. The specific categories may have "Mild" strength language. So either this proposal needs to actually make member nations DO something, or it needs to switch area of effect.

Could it be changed to "manufacturing" which would be by far the most heavily affected industry?

and it's not like it doesn't make nations do anything Just because "be an unreasonable hard-ass" is not not among the requirements doesn't mean it's weak legislation.

OOC: That would exclude the Energy Production and Transmission industry, which is certainly not manufacturing, and would be, by far, the most important industry to consider. It isn't a NationStates industry, I'll admit, but as a worker where Energy and Environmental industries intersect, I would think that not addressing Production and Transmission would be a tremendous waste. As such, the only way to effectively do this is to use All Business and make this Strong.

For better or for worse, though, strong environmental measures won't easily pass in this WA climate.

[We Couldnt Agree On A Name]

OOC: That would exclude the Energy Production and Transmission industry, which is certainly not manufacturing, and would be, by far, the most important industry to consider. It isn't a NationStates industry, I'll admit

OOC:
You're right, it's not an official industry. However the other categories (fishing automotive etc) aren't as dependent on the energy infrastructure in ways that that can be addressed through alternative energy. Thus categorizing this under manufacturing is a suitable proxy.

but as a worker where Energy and Environmental industries intersect, I would think that not addressing Production and Transmission would be a tremendous waste.

It is a waste that we can't address energy policy, but that's an issue with the way the game is set up, and the WA can't change it.

As such, the only way to effectively do this is to use All Business and make this Strong.

For better or for worse, though, strong environmental measures won't easily pass in this WA climate.

I'm not sure if it's your intent but don't think that torpedoing legislation through rules-lawyering is an effective way to do anything.

[Araraukar]

I'm not sure if it's your intent but don't think that torpedoing legislation through rules-lawyering is an effective way to do anything.

OOC: It's hardly rules-lawyering, when we're just repeating mod statements. Precendent, ya know.