$100 carbon tax by 2030 could save climate, say economists

Economists say countries should ramp up the price of carbon emissions to as much as $100 per metric ton by 2030 to stop catastrophic global warming.

Experts including Nobel Laureate Joseph Stiglitz and former World Bank chief economist Nicholas Stern say should be taxed at $40-$80 per ton by 2020.

They say prices should rise to $50-$100 by 2030 to give businesses and governments an incentive to lower emissions even when are cheap.

In a report published Monday, they suggest poor countries could aim for a lower tax since their economies are more vulnerable.

The Trump administration has rejected calls to introduce a carbon tax in the United States, saying it would cost jobs.

European Union carbon prices stand at just under $6 per ton.

© 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Citation: $100 carbon tax by 2030 could save climate, say economists (2017, May 29) retrieved 19 April 2024 from https://phys.org/news/2017-05-carbon-tax-climate-economists.html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.

Explore further

Global emissions to leap 39 percent by 2030: US

33 shares

Feedback to editors