Last Updated:
February 28, 2007

GCRIO Program Overview

Library 
Our extensive collection of documents.

Privacy Policy

Archives of the
Global Climate Change Digest
A Guide to Information on Greenhouse Gases and Ozone Depletion
Published July 1988 through June 1999

FROM VOLUME 5, NUMBER 9, SEPTEMBER 1992

REPORTS...
CARBON/ENERGY TAXES

Item #d92sep95

The Right Climate for Carbon Taxes: Creating Economic Incentives to Protect the Atmosphere, R.C. Dower (World Resources Inst.), M.B. Zimmerman (Alliance to Save Energy), July 1992, $9.95 + $3 shipping. WRI Publications, POB 4852, Hampden Sta., Baltimore MD 21211.

A carbon tax strategy is the best approach for curbing CO₂ emissions, and if coupled with lower taxes on income and investment, could promote economic growth and development as well. A successful tax strategy, which would avoid the complexity and costs of a regulatory approach, must: (1) minimize short-term economic losses by careful use of the revenue generated by the tax; (2) maximize economic returns by lowering other tax rates; and (3) compensate those who are adversely affected. A number of recent studies show that recycling the revenue from a $40/ton carbon tax would actually increase gross national product, while not necessarily harming the U.S. balance of trade.

Item #d92sep96

The Potential Effects of Greenhouse Gas Control Initiatives on the Primary Metals Industry: A Preliminary Analysis of Carbon Taxes, L.D. Maxim, S.J. Dunne, 100 pp., 1992. Available from Amer. Mining Congress, 1920 N St. NW, S. 300, Washington DC 20036 (202-861-2855).

This pilot study, soon to be followed by a more thorough one, examines the impact on seven different metals industries of a $10/ton carbon tax that increases to $100/ton by the year 2000. Energy price increases could be substantial, especially for aluminum, and possibly copper, zinc and lead. (See Energy, Econ. & Clim. Change, pp. 14-15, June 1992.)

Item #d92sep97

Global Oil Report, Vol. 3, No. 3, 1992, £100/$190. Ctr. for Global Energy Studies, 17 Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7LY, UK.

World demand for crude oil may fall by 20% following the introduction of a flat rate carbon tax in industrialized countries; large differences in final selling prices of energy are likely to hinder attempts to slow the rate of CO₂ emissions. Unless steps are taken to level the oil and energy price playing field, it will be difficult to reach agreement on measures to limit CO₂. (See Intl. Environ. Rptr., p. 493, July 29, 1992.)

Item #d92sep98

Pricing Environmental Risks, W.K. Viscusi, 26 pp., June 1992, no charge. Ctr. Study Amer. Business, Campus Box 1208, Washington Univ., St. Louis MI 63130 (314-935-5630).

The U.S. EPA has one of the worst governmental records when it comes to proposing risk-reduction policies for which costs far outweigh benefits. Energy sources should be taxed to cover the full social costs of their consumption and to increase resources for improving the environment. ("Social costs" evaluated in this analysis do not include greenhouse emissions.)