Dieter Helm
- Published in print:
- 2012
- Published Online:
- October 2013
- ISBN:
- 9780300186598
- eISBN:
- 9780300188646
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Yale University Press
- DOI:
- 10.12987/yale/9780300186598.001.0001
- Subject:
- Environmental Science, Environmental Studies
This book explains the causes of climate change and who is responsible for it. It shows that the emissions keep going up, and that nothing of substance has yet been achieved after more than two ...
More
This book explains the causes of climate change and who is responsible for it. It shows that the emissions keep going up, and that nothing of substance has yet been achieved after more than two decades of effort. It is claimed that the energy sector can be converted from an overwhelmingly carbon-based one to almost zero carbon in the space of half a century, all at just a small cost, or even a profit, based on simplistic assumptions about economic growth and a new industrial revolution. The current industrial structures of all developed and most developing economies are overwhelmingly carbon-based. Decarbonizing requires the coordinated replacement of almost all of the capital stock of the world. Tackling climate change does mean lowering standard of living from its current unsustainable levels, even after the economic crisis. A border carbon tax has one other great virtue: it provides a bottom-up way of getting global action, and avoids the tortuous Kyoto-style top-down negotiations. Applying border adjustments is bound to take time and cause transitional difficulties. Carbon pricing is necessary, but it is not sufficient. By considering climate change mitigation in the context of a limited ability to pay, a very different strategy emerges. For the amounts currently spent, carbon emissions could be cut by much more in the short run, and the possibility of a series of breakthroughs could be husbanded through a major international R&D programme.Less
This book explains the causes of climate change and who is responsible for it. It shows that the emissions keep going up, and that nothing of substance has yet been achieved after more than two decades of effort. It is claimed that the energy sector can be converted from an overwhelmingly carbon-based one to almost zero carbon in the space of half a century, all at just a small cost, or even a profit, based on simplistic assumptions about economic growth and a new industrial revolution. The current industrial structures of all developed and most developing economies are overwhelmingly carbon-based. Decarbonizing requires the coordinated replacement of almost all of the capital stock of the world. Tackling climate change does mean lowering standard of living from its current unsustainable levels, even after the economic crisis. A border carbon tax has one other great virtue: it provides a bottom-up way of getting global action, and avoids the tortuous Kyoto-style top-down negotiations. Applying border adjustments is bound to take time and cause transitional difficulties. Carbon pricing is necessary, but it is not sufficient. By considering climate change mitigation in the context of a limited ability to pay, a very different strategy emerges. For the amounts currently spent, carbon emissions could be cut by much more in the short run, and the possibility of a series of breakthroughs could be husbanded through a major international R&D programme.
Dieter Helm
- Published in print:
- 2012
- Published Online:
- October 2013
- ISBN:
- 9780300186598
- eISBN:
- 9780300188646
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Yale University Press
- DOI:
- 10.12987/yale/9780300186598.003.0010
- Subject:
- Environmental Science, Environmental Studies
This chapter discusses carbon pricing, which implies that the inputs with a lot of embedded carbon which a company uses to make things and deliver services will become more costly. Companies will ...
More
This chapter discusses carbon pricing, which implies that the inputs with a lot of embedded carbon which a company uses to make things and deliver services will become more costly. Companies will therefore strive to substitute carbon-intensive inputs for non-carbon inputs. Politicians may oppose carbon pricing when it exposes the technologies they have supported. The aim of a market-based mechanism such as the carbon tax is to change the incentives on both the demand and supply sides. In order to be effective, it needs to be targeted as close to the externality as possible. The border carbon tax provides a fairer way of distributing the costs. With a carbon price in place, focused on what matters the market would then be properly incentivized to start the serious business of decarbonizing.Less
This chapter discusses carbon pricing, which implies that the inputs with a lot of embedded carbon which a company uses to make things and deliver services will become more costly. Companies will therefore strive to substitute carbon-intensive inputs for non-carbon inputs. Politicians may oppose carbon pricing when it exposes the technologies they have supported. The aim of a market-based mechanism such as the carbon tax is to change the incentives on both the demand and supply sides. In order to be effective, it needs to be targeted as close to the externality as possible. The border carbon tax provides a fairer way of distributing the costs. With a carbon price in place, focused on what matters the market would then be properly incentivized to start the serious business of decarbonizing.
