Lawrence Lessig on Environment

We don't own Earth; we hold it in trust for our children

It is my view that polluters should clean up their pollution or pay the cost for the damage they've done. In this context, that principle translates into a strong demand that carbon emitters pay the price for what they do. I would support a carbon tax, which would force them to internalize the cost of what they're doing, thereby raising the price of dirty energy, and shifting demand to clean alternatives.

That principle also means that we must do much more to stop the pollution of our air and waters by corporations who have convinced Congress to exempt them from this basic obligation.