I worry though, that adopting either a cap and trade system or a carbon tax now will make it difficult in the future to switch to the other (or a totally new system) in the event that things don’t work out as planned. A failed climate change control effort now may only produce fodder for opponents of climate change control down the road, and add to the challenge of finding an effective and enforceable long term solution.

I think this means that while we definitely need strong legislation as soon as possible, it is important that whatever measures are passed are carefully considered and combed through for just the kinds of loopholes noted in the editorial you cite.

As for getting all the interested parties to work together for a solution, it seems to me that environmental responsibility needs to be better incentivized by the government in order to make it more of a priority for all involved. If it makes real economic sense to control carbon emissions or prevent deforestation, corporations will find ways to do so.