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https://theconversation.com/taxes-out-subsidies-in-australia-and-the-us-are-passing-major-climate-bills-without-taxing-carbon-189555>
"At last, there’s action on climate change. The United States recently passed
its largest climate bill ever. And Australia is set to usher a 43% emissions
target into law this week, although the Greens will try to amend the bill so
the climate impacts of new gas and coal projects are considered.
Good news, right? There’s one issue – these laws, packages and amendments
conspicuously avoid the “T” word. Economists have long argued the best option
to cut emissions is a tax or, failing that, a type of carbon market known as
“cap-and-trade”. But nowhere do the Australian or US bills mention taxing
carbon dioxide to discourage dumping it into the atmosphere.
Why? The answer is basically politics. The Gillard Labor government introduced
a carbon tax that, although it worked, turned out to be political kryptonite.
So Labor’s climate policies now rely not on a tax, but on incentives for clean
energy, carbon farming and electric transport.
This is not ideal. For decades, economists have pointed out carbon taxes and
pollution allowance markets are the simplest and best way to reduce emissions
at the lowest possible cost. But it seems taxes are out and stimulus is in."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
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mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
