The ETUC Urges the Commission to Reintroduce the Carbon Tax on Imports in the Future Climate Change Legislation

01/21/2008 by Daniel Rosenblum

The ETUC Urges the Commission o Reintroduce the Carbon Tax on Imports in the Future Climate Change Legislation (European Trade Union Confederation)

Common Council Votes to Support Federal Carbon Tax

01/17/2008 by Daniel Rosenblum

Common Council Votes to Support Federal Carbon Tax (Ithaca Journal)

After the Election

01/15/2008 by Daniel Rosenblum

Rex Nutting's Market Watch commentary (see "Quote of the Week") properly criticizes the presidential candidates for coming up with Rube Goldberg energy plans instead of having the guts to show leadership by proposing to increase the price of fossil fuels. It's a fair critique, but it's the rare candidate who has Senator Dodd's courage to propose a tax while running for office. 

After the election, when there is less concern about cheap shots distorting policy discussions just before voting, it will be far easier to consider the best approach to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.  After the election it will be possible to explain that a revenue-neutral carbon tax is a tax-shift, not a tax increase, and that will be good for both the environment and the economy. After the election it will be easier to get past the rhetoric and to recognize that both carbon taxes and cap-and-trade increase prices. After the election, when there is an opportunity for a relatively objective analysis,  citizens and elected officials will be able to compare a revenue- neutral carbon tax (which raises prices gradually with an upwards trajectory that gives families and businesses time to adjust by using energy more efficiently and substituting renewable energy for coal and other fossil fuels) to cap-and-trade (which produces volatile energy prices and, under most proposed legislation, huge windfalls for polluters). 

For now, we can wait until after the election.  Or, take a look at the headlines to the right of this page to learn about the more serious discussions taking place in Canada and Europe.  

Candidates Not Leading on Economic Issues

01/15/2008 by Daniel Rosenblum

Candidates Not Leading on Economic Issues ( Dow Jones Market Watch)

France’s Sarkozy Calls for Carbon Tax

01/15/2008 by Daniel Rosenblum

France's Sarkozy Calls for Carbon Tax (Houston Chronicle)

EU Workers Call for Tax on Imports from Countries Not Tackling Climate Change

01/15/2008 by Daniel Rosenblum

EU Workers Call for Tax on Imports from Countries Not Tackling Climate Change (Business Wire)

First the Transit Push, Then the Gas Tax

01/15/2008 by Daniel Rosenblum

First the Transit Push, Then the Gas Tax (Times Colonist)

B.C. Businesses Call for Revenue-Neutral Carbon Tax

01/14/2008 by Daniel Rosenblum

B.C. Businesses Call for Revenue-Neutral Carbon Tax (Vancouver Sun)

Premier Is Defending a Possible Carbon Tax

01/11/2008 by Daniel Rosenblum

Premier Is Defending a Possible Carbon Tax (CKNW Radio)

Higher Taxes the Cost of Sustainability

01/11/2008 by Daniel Rosenblum

Higher Taxes the Cost of Sustainability (The Western Gazette - Editorial)