Is a Carbon Tax a Good Idea?

.-.-.- (aka Fullstop) asks: "Cosmos Magazine is reporting that the rate of carbon dioxide emissions has more than doubled since the 1990's. Several researchers fear increased levels may be unstoppable. Australia's national science agency, CSIRO flatly states that current carbon reduction efforts are just not working. Add to this heady mix the fact that Toyota is pushing for a carbon tax and Australia, and the UK, are currently considering one, and a trend begins to emerge. If current reduction methods are not working what will? The United States currently employs a voluntary carbon reduction scheme based on market trading, with very limited corporate participation. Is a carbon tax a good way to stabilize emissions in the face of heretofore failed efforts at stabilization?"

Comments

Depends

[inviolet]

It depends on which you think is a greater threat:

• global warming, which can only be stopped by decreasing atmospheric CO2, or
• global cooling and the next ice age, which can only be stopped by increasing atmospheric CO2

Only one of those threats has occurred many times before, is certain to occur again, and is certain to wipe us out when vegetation falters. Guess which one?

They need to pay more.

[FatSean]

They need to pay for blocking my line of sight.

When an SUV cuts me off, I call in the plate as a drunk driver. You should do the same!

How about a stupid tax instead?

[nurb432]

What a scam. What garbage.