When it comes to climate change, there are many debates to be had. One of them is certainly the question of fairness and responsibility. While some countries have enjoyed the luxury that the use of oil, coal & gas brought for many decades, others have been left behind. Through economic growth, some of these countries are now closing the gap and have the „western standard“ as their role model. Everyone would like to own a big house, drive multiple cars and enjoy the lazy life that these technologies enable us to live. Some voices now criticize the growing emissions which come along with the advances and demand the same CO2 budgets for countries which live in different income levels and have different population structures. While it does make sense that everyone should minimize their impact on the planet, is it really just to forbid others to reach the same level of comfort that some of us have enjoyed for many many years rather than us lowering our living standards?
One of the ways economists try to address this issue are carbon taxes. While the system is far from perfect, I believe they could be one way to address inequality and injustice. Richer countries (which happen to be the big emitters of CO2 as well) have the financial capacity to balance the scale. Furthermore, the regions of the world which will have the biggest impacts (among them: Central Africa, coastal communities in the pacific and many more) don’t have the resources to adapt to the coming challenges. These climate change adaptations could be financed through the carbon taxes paid by the big emitting countries and could bring us a tiny step closer to justice between countries. Climate justice on the other hand, is another topic which we’ll have to address in a different conversation.
Hey Chris, I would love to hear more of your thoughts on what the future of industrialism would look like with these carbon taxes, I think we maybe need to focus more on locality and regionality to cut western carbon metrics. It doesn't really make much sense to me to import organic tomatoes from Mexico to sell here in organic grocery stores. Yet, this is how industrial organics work. Would a carbon tax work if the industry is so affluent that they can disregard it? Would a carbon tax also be used for more local reparations as well?
So great to see this, Chris! Yes, there are real injustices at play in climate negotiations, and I love the idea that carbon taxes could help address these inequalities and injustices.
I really like your point of: "While it does make sense that everyone should minimize their impact on the planet, is it really just to forbid others to reach the same level of comfort that some of us have enjoyed for many many years rather than us lowering our living standards?"
I don't see it as lowering our living standards at all because what we have right now is a world with super high carbon emissions, increasing rates of natural disasters, poor air quality (some areas more than others), and are on track for ecological destruction. The 'standard' we have right now isn't a good standard in my books. So I don't think we should forbid anyone to reach a decent level of comfort but at the same time the place we've found ourselves in has surpassed this comfortable area and is now negatively impacting us. Somewhere in the middle of these two is where we should aim for.
Hi Chris! This really harkens back to the conversations about exorbitant wealth in that documentary on billionaires we watched; clearly, the impacts of climate change are not acted out or felt equally, so it would follow that there are no blanket solutions. Considering the nuances such as colonial history in assigning culpability and things like carbon credits is absolutely Just, and should be on the radars of the governing bodies.
To be honest, Canadian energy is some of the "cleanist" is the world and if its not produced at home (where jobs would be created) the oil would be imported from other countries to meet the demand. I honestly think investing in new technologies and funding renewables should be more of a priority. Great perspective though!
When the hole in the ozone layer was a major concern, a similar tax was imposed and through a series of credits, major corporations have leaned away from mal-production. I believe your idea of a carbon tax would elicit a similar response!
This touches on something that a lot of people don't seem to understand when it comes to climate change and how we combat emissions as a global society. Most people who question how we tackle climate change and have the privilege of growing up in the western world love to point their fingers at China and India saying "why should WE limit our emissions when China is producing so much more". I wish there was more communication on this part of climate change in the media.
While I don't know how much money can be siphoned from carbon taxes to fund international power generation, preventing current underdeveloped countries from following the same path as the western world is important and should be funded.