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Carbon Border Adjustments can theoretically go further than just insuring locally consumed imports are offset. In the future, we might see a union of countries

by phire 5y ago

Carbon Border Adjustments can theoretically go further than just insuring locally consumed imports are offset. In the future, we might see a union of countries that have carbon pricing agree to apply adjustments to non-carbon priced countries equal to (or greater than) their estimated internal carbon outputs. Those funds can be redirected into extra carbon-offset projects. With this mechanism, it's theoretically possible to force the would to be carbon neutral (or carbon negative), even if there are a few large countries holding out.

relax88 5y ago
This is by far the most exciting part of the whole idea. Up here in Alberta Canada we have an oil producing province chock full of people who are against the Federal carbon tax. Some are climate deniers, but most are rational people who are asking: “Why we should sacrifice our wealth to reduce emissions when capital investment will just flow somewhere that has no carbon tax and the emissions will happen anyways?” Up until the idea of CBAs started gaining traction the only answer anyone could muster was “Because it’s the right thing to do”, which is incredibly weak and unlikely to convince pragmatic individuals or anyone who benefits from the oil industry (~5% of GDP, so it’s a lot of people). I hope that CBAs can be a way of addressing this concern such that taking action on climate change doesn’t mean reducing global competitiveness.
- SV_BubbleTime 5y ago
  > “Why we should sacrifice our wealth to reduce emissions when capital investment will just flow somewhere that has no carbon tax and the emissions will happen anyways?” It’s a shame anyone who is skeptical about realities of tax policy changing the climate are labeled “deniers”. You have perfectly illustrated the right argument. So the question is really, “by what mechanism other than world war are you going to force everyone on to the same tax and credit system”? Maybe it is import/export and border adjustment, IDK. Interesting idea.
908B64B197 5y ago
Western countries should consider going further to incentivize other partners into curbing their emissions: place quotas on visas issued to foreign national from polluting countries that are not part of the union. Some countries have a point-based system for immigration, why not reward those doing their parts for the planet?
- burlesona 5y ago
  I’m not sure that would have the effect you have in mind. It’s kind of complicated if you’re a country that is losing population to emigration. Yes, remittance payments come in. But brain drain is a big problem, and most countries facing it try to stop it however they can. So, fire up a coal plant and nobody can get visas out? Seems like that could backfire.
  - 908B64B197 5y ago
    > So, fire up a coal plant and nobody can get visas out? Unless they vote against using coal
    - gruez 5y ago
      How much voting power does that group have? They can't be that big, because if they are the country would be empty in several decades' time
- adrianN 5y ago
  Right now, western countries themselves could do a lot more to curb their emissions. No one is on track for the Paris agreement: https://climateactiontracker.org/ https://climateactiontracker.org/

by phire 5y ago

relax88 5y ago

This is by far the most exciting part of the whole idea. Up here in Alberta Canada we have an oil producing province chock full of people who are against the Federal carbon tax. Some are climate deniers, but most are rational people who are asking: “Why we should sacrifice our wealth to reduce emissions when capital investment will just flow somewhere that has no carbon tax and the emissions will happen anyways?” Up until the idea of CBAs started gaining traction the only answer anyone could muster was “Because it’s the right thing to do”, which is incredibly weak and unlikely to convince pragmatic individuals or anyone who benefits from the oil industry (~5% of GDP, so it’s a lot of people). I hope that CBAs can be a way of addressing this concern such that taking action on climate change doesn’t mean reducing global competitiveness.

SV_BubbleTime 5y ago
> “Why we should sacrifice our wealth to reduce emissions when capital investment will just flow somewhere that has no carbon tax and the emissions will happen anyways?” It’s a shame anyone who is skeptical about realities of tax policy changing the climate are labeled “deniers”. You have perfectly illustrated the right argument. So the question is really, “by what mechanism other than world war are you going to force everyone on to the same tax and credit system”? Maybe it is import/export and border adjustment, IDK. Interesting idea.

908B64B197 5y ago

Western countries should consider going further to incentivize other partners into curbing their emissions: place quotas on visas issued to foreign national from polluting countries that are not part of the union. Some countries have a point-based system for immigration, why not reward those doing their parts for the planet?

burlesona 5y ago
I’m not sure that would have the effect you have in mind. It’s kind of complicated if you’re a country that is losing population to emigration. Yes, remittance payments come in. But brain drain is a big problem, and most countries facing it try to stop it however they can. So, fire up a coal plant and nobody can get visas out? Seems like that could backfire.
- 908B64B197 5y ago
  > So, fire up a coal plant and nobody can get visas out? Unless they vote against using coal
  - gruez 5y ago
    How much voting power does that group have? They can't be that big, because if they are the country would be empty in several decades' time
adrianN 5y ago
Right now, western countries themselves could do a lot more to curb their emissions. No one is on track for the Paris agreement: https://climateactiontracker.org/ https://climateactiontracker.org/