For more than 40 years, California has led the nation in
environmental regulation, from passing the toughest coastal
protection laws to America's first rules banning leaded
gasoline. Now, this week -- after Hurricane Sandy pushed the
issue of climate change back into the national spotlight --
California will become the first state to begin requiring a
broad range of businesses to reduce their greenhouse gas
pollution. At 10 a.m. Wednesday, the California Air Resources
Board is scheduled to hold its first auction to sell pollution
allowances under the state's landmark cap-and-trade law. The
idea is simple: The state sets an overall "cap" for California's
greenhouse gas emissions, and companies must buy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Full_cost_accountingFull cost
accounting (FCA) generally refers to the process of collecting
and presenting information — about environmental, social, and
economic costs and benefits/advantages (collectively known as
the "triple bottom line") - for each proposed alternative when a
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