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The Right Price

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The Right Price

IMF,

5 min read
5 take-aways
Audio & text

What's inside?

Will falling fossil fuel costs give nations the opportunity to enact carbon pricing?

Editorial Rating

8

Qualities

  • Innovative
  • Scientific
  • Overview

Recommendation

By 2100, global temperatures could be 3ºC to 4ºC [5.4ºF to 7.2ºF] higher than those on record for the preindustrial era. While this increment seems small, its effects on climate stability are huge. For United Nations policy makers at the 2015 Paris climate meetings, the challenge was to convince countries to implement measures that would hold the increase to 2ºC. According to environmental fiscal expert Ian Parry, the most effective approach to reducing fossil fuel emissions has three components: carbon taxes, monitoring and high-value allocation of new tax revenues. getAbstract recommends this brief but astute article to anyone responsible for crafting environmental policy.

Summary

“Twenty advanced and emerging market economies accounted for nearly 80% of global carbon emissions in 2012.” Thus, climate change mitigation measures need to focus on policies that address the burning of fossil fuels. Without any action, carbon dioxide emissions will roughly triple by 2100, particularly as emerging markets increase their energy use. Developing countries are responsible for almost three-fifths of global emissions. Coal contributes 44% of carbon dioxide emissions, while oil and natural gas add 35% and 20%, respectively.

The ...

About the Author

Ian Parry is principal environmental fiscal policy expert at the International Monetary Fund.


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