# Economists save the planet

*Published:* 2010-11-18
*Author:* Gernot Wagner

[Why are we so “gung-ho” about cap and trade?](http://blogs.edf.org/markets/2010/11/17/gung-ho-about-cap-and-trade/) The term might be banned from Washington and much of our vocabulary at the moment, but it’s still far from a trick question.

Call them [what](http://www.edf.org/page.cfm?tagID=69 "Catch shares") [you](http://www.edf.org/page.cfm?tagID=117 "Center for Conservation Incentives") [want](http://www.edf.org/page.cfm?tagID=54774 "REDD"), environmental markets are fundamentally the most scientifically sound, economically efficient, and often the only way forward.

![](http://www.edf.org/content_Images/Markets_worldmap.gif)

No wonder countries the world over are adopting or planning to adopt them.

We are starting a new blog specifically focused on [market forces](http://blogs.edf.org/markets) and why re-guiding them is the only solution to many of our environmental problems.

Individual volunteerism won’t do. Blocking market forces won’t do. [Subscribing](http://feeds.feedburner.com/MarketForces) to the new blog won’t make the world a better place all by itself either, but it probably doesn’t hurt.