What’s the carbon cost?

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Carbon pricing refers to the method of determining what producers of carbon dioxide would have to pay for the right to emit a certain amount. This is a feature of different regulatory schemes designed to reduce carbon emissions, as carbon dioxide contributes to climate change. In regimes with a carbon tax, carbon pricing means deciding how much tax would significantly reduce emissions without unduly harming industry or the economy. It’s also a feature of some cap-and-trade plans, where companies are able to buy the right to emit more carbon by buying the credits that allow them to do so. The price of carbon dioxide is usually quoted as the price per ton.

There are several proposed ways to implement carbon pricing through a cap-and-trade system or taxation. A commercial protection plan might initially include the auctioning of emission permits, simply giving them away, or involve a combination of both. Taxation can be a simple price per ton or be part of a hybrid plan that includes a form of cap-and-trade. Some businessmen see pure taxation as a penalty, while some economists argue that it provides more incentive to reduce pollution. One possible advantage of cap-and-trade is that it could encourage innovation in reducing emissions rather than encouraging industries to reduce economic output.

The carbon pricing discussion also deals with two economic factors, one known as a direct cost and the other as an externality. A direct cost is a cost normally included in the calculation of income and expenses, such as the purchase of equipment or labor costs. An externality, also known as an indirect cost, is not normally considered but still has a broader economic impact. Due to the negative effects of climate change, carbon emissions have the potential to produce a number of harmful externalities. Carbon pricing is seen as a way to reduce and possibly offset these externalities.

There are practical problems when trying to price carbon. One problem is that it is difficult to determine the true cost of any externalities before they occur. On the other hand, first determining the value of nearby natural resources such as lakes or forests is a standard part of the development process of any given area. Another issue is to what extent the carbon price can or should be passed on to consumers and how this will affect the economy. Some also worry that products that go through multiple stages of development before becoming a finished product could become cost prohibitive.

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