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Have there been any significant carbon taxes implemented, though? Quite a few countries have implemented carbon taxes [1], in fact. Sure, these basically token
by joe_the_user 5y ago
Have there been any significant carbon taxes implemented, though?
Quite a few countries have implemented carbon taxes [1], in fact. Sure, these basically token taxes. But my point is that they couldn't be anything else - a large tax would hinder the average person's ability to function while not changing a lot of behavior. Public transit in my area is close to non-existent and I have moderate efficient car but everyone couldn't suddenly acquire a very efficient car since only so many are made per year. I rent and so I have no choice about how efficient my isolation is, etc.
Changes in energy consumption require coordinated action, not individual incentives.
[1]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_tax#Implementation_by_country https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_tax#Implementation_by_c...
- NumberWangMan 5y agoI don't disagree with you. Suddenly creating a big tax causes a lot of strife, but setting a tax that is too low doesn't create enough of a change in emissions. But I think there is a solution here: implement a tax that starts low and continuously increases. Is doesn't hurt at first, but if everyone knows the tax will keep going up, that creates a strong incentive to alter your choices even before it gets high. It also gives people time to adjust gradually where necessary-some changes that would be really painful to make in a month could be completely painless if you're given 4 years. There's a bill in the US that a lot of people are pushing for that would work like I've described: https://energyinnovationact.org/ https://energyinnovationact.org/