Cost Accounting

Can we afford to address climate change? President Bush has repeatedly said no. But many mainstream critics are now countering that argument. In fact, they say, we can't afford not to. That's the upshot of this analysis from United Press International, based on reports from the British Treasury and the U.S. industry consultants, PricewaterhouseCoopers. Thematically, the story dovetails nicely from this item from today's Wall Street Journal. A subscription is required to read the article, but here's the headline and plug.

"Why Beijing is trying to tally the hidden costs of pollution as China's economy booms." A two-year 'green accounting' study indicates the nation's rampant pollution problem is quietly undermining long-term economic growth.