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Just implement carbon taxes based on the cost of removing CO2 from the atmosphere (probably $200-$500/tonne). This is going to mean about a 5-10% cost of livin
by ArkanExplorer 5y ago
Just implement carbon taxes based on the cost of removing CO2 from the atmosphere (probably $200-$500/tonne).
This is going to mean about a 5-10% cost of living increase for the typical Westerner - affordable, and beneficial because it will also mean much less air pollution.
It would also mean that the 2nd/3rd world would build up with renewable energy and electric transport from the ground up, instead of with fossil fuel infrastructure which will be difficult to replace.
- twobitshifter 5y agoIt’s a nice idea, but all consumption taxes are unpopular and federal tax revenues are just thrown into one big pile. Can we just spend a trillion a year to remove the CO2 instead?
- ArkanExplorer 5y agoCO2 removal (and storage) at scale is impossible. We would basically have to recreate the Azolla event: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azolla_event https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azolla_event We already have condensed carbon - in the ground, stable, in the form of coal, natural gas, and oil. We need to just stop digging it out and burning it. There's really no getting around the need for a direct and transparent price on carbon. The health benefits from lower air pollution alone would probably pay for the transition itself. For example, at just about $15/tonne, coal is immediately dead (doubled in price) as an electricity source: https://www.resources.org/common-resources/calculating-various-fuel-prices-under-a-carbon-tax/ https://www.resources.org/common-resources/calculating-vario... Whereas current techniques are coming in at about $500/tonne for CO2 removal.