Carbon Tax & Cap-&-Trade Tools: Market-Based Approaches for Controlling Greenhouse Gases

Global climate change is one of the nation''''s most significant long-term policy challenges. Human activities are producing increasingly large quantities of greenhouse gases, particularly CO2. The accumulation of those gases in the atmosphere is expected to have potentially serious and costly effects on regional climates throughout the world. Market-based mechanisms that limit greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions can be divided into two types: quantity control (cap and trade) and price control (carbon tax or fee). If policymakers had perfect information regarding the market, either a carbon tax or cap-and-trade program instrument could be designed to achieve the same outcome. Because this market ideal does not exist, preference for a carbon tax or a cap-and-trade program ultimately depends on which variable one wants to control -- emissions or costs. Both are estimated to increase the price of fossil fuels, which would ultimately be borne by consumers, particularly households. This book explores the comprehensive comparison, viability and policy considerations of using either a carbon tax or a cap-and-trade program to offset greenhouse gas emissions. This book consists of public documents which have been located, gathered, combined, reformatted, and enhanced with a subject index, selectively edited and bound to provide easy access. See more