Ahead of the Curve?

From today's Guardian - Firms face compulsory carbon quotas:

"Many of the UK's big businesses - including supermarkets, banks, universities, hotel chains, hospitals and government departments - would be forced to sign up to a carbon-trading scheme under proposals being drafted by ministers.

The scheme has received an initial enthusiastic response from some of the companies, government sources said last night, and may prove to be a central feature of a climate change bill in the spring.

The proposed system would require firms either to reduce their emissions or buy permits from other companies, giving them the right to pollute above their agreed ceiling. The plan, to be outlined today, would bind 5,000 companies and organisations not included in an EU-wide trading scheme..."

Now if that's not a reason to Go Green - that if you don't cut carbon emissions now voluntarily, legislation will make you do it anway later on - I don't know what is.