It is really unfortunate that anthropogenic climate change, and whether or not it exists has become the basis of the climate change argument around the world.

The real reason we need to pay more for polluting is that the costs to produce anything and everything have rarely (if ever) included the cost to clean up the pollution emmitted (in the form of C02, litter, landfill etc).

A river cant complain when you dump tailings from a mine in there.

Thus we are actually getting stuff at a rediculously cheap price because the cost to the environment is not included in the pruchase price.

Imagine what having clean water is worth in $$$, its so high its almost impossible to calcuate.

Economic markets do not include environmental costs and currently, as the debate over climate change demonstrates, we are a long way from agreeing on a realistic pricing for the costs to the environment.

Till then the believers and the sceptics will continue to battle in the media and everyone will just get sick of the whole issue and loose sight of the core problem, a society that has lost touch with the planet that sustains us.