Bob Williams presents a solution for current energy crisis – emission permits “How many people are concerned with climate change?” asked Bob Williams, professor of economics. The classroom of people raised their hands and most left their hands up when he asked how many drove cars to the discussion.

“Somehow there’s a disconnect,” Williams said. “We’re worried about this problem, but we’re also creating it.”

On Feb. 27, Williams gave the first faculty research presentation of the semester. In the process of sending proposals to publishers, he discussed his book, “Greening the Economy: Integrating Economics and Ecology to Make Effective Change.”

“In doing research, I was surprised by the parallels between how ecosystems and economic systems operate,” Williams said. “A particular species comes to dominate an area in the same way a certain corporation will.”

Williams spoke of economics and ecology as “dual and competing paradigms.” He compared them to the famous perceptual illusion of the old and young woman.

“We can be enriched by being able to see both views,” Williams said.

One paradigm, Neo-Malthusians, believe environmental limits impose a carrying capacity for ecosystems.

Kuznets, the other paradigm, argue against the idea of such limitations.

“Kuznets say there are these limits, but they don’t always apply to humans because of our cleverness,” Williams said.

Learning about ways to approach thinking about the environment sparked discussion about current environmental issues.

“Today, the market system takes care of 6.5 billion people demanding food but soon resources will be so scarce people will have to fight for them or be left in a corner with no food or water,” said Noah Collin, senior business major who attended the presentation.

“If a couple billion Chinese want the American dream, there’s not enough global oil supply to sustain everyone,” said Karl Floitgraf, sophomore who attended the presentation.

Lack of oil effects students most directly through higher gas prices. While the market system lowered oil prices in the 1970s, Williams believes public policy is the solution.

He advocates emission permits where consumers must pay a set tax on fossil fuel energy. A higher cost for gas will encourage energy conservation, fuel switching and cleaner energy sources.

“If we had permits, that would cause prices to rise for things transported using gas, like food,” said Kenza Hadj-Moussa, junior economics major at the presentation. “Wouldn’t this cause inflation?”

“There would be some inflation and some recession because it would be a transition but it would create more opportunities for local farmers,” Williams said. “Similar to when a tree falls in a forest, there is destruction. But opportunities for other plants to grow and fill its place are created.”

“I think the permits are a great idea in theory,” said Molly Finch, junior environmental studies major who attended the presentation. “In a society where we take things for granted, the issue will be people accepting them.”

“I see students stepping up and doing small things like turning off lights when leaving the room, but you have to change your lifestyle to reach the level Bob’s talking about,” Finch said.