In the wake of climate change negotiations in Cancún, and as New Mexico, California, Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia design their own greenhouse gas markets, I am struck by the dearth of North American academics involved in the creation of climate change policy. Those tracking and attempting to influence the design of these markets are not few; they encompass representatives from energy to agricultural industries, industry trade associations like the International Emissions Trading Association, non-governmental organizations such as the Pew Center on Global Climate Change, World Resources Institute, and Stockholm Environment Institute. However, all of these interests have funding sources with an agenda. Academia is not completely immune to the plague of industry or interest group-sponsored research, but it is more protected as professors usually do not owe their salary to one of these entities and some external funding sources like the National Science Foundation have no anticipated outcome of studies or papers. Involving more academics can help provide a more unbiased review with equal emphasis on how policies will impact a variety of industries and the environment
