Effective Carbon Rates 2023
Pricing Greenhouse Gas Emissions through Taxes and Emissions Trading
Successfully transitioning to net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions requires effective mitigation policy packages, which include carbon pricing measures: a cost-effective policy instrument that not only reduces emissions but also generates revenue to support the transition. This fourth edition of Effective Carbon Rates provides an overview of the carbon pricing landscape, examining fuel excise taxes, carbon taxes, and emissions trading systems (ETSs) through 2021, with updates on developments until 2023. The policy mechanisms examined directly impact the cost of emitting GHGs, influencing shifts in production, consumption, and investment towards low- or zero-carbon options. The analysis covers 72 countries which together account for approximately 80% of global GHG emissions. The report focuses on developments in ETSs and transport fuel taxes amidst the energy crisis and provides comprehensive and comparable data on the current status of GHG emissions pricing that can assist policymakers in identifying priorities and refining carbon mitigation strategies.
Also available in: French
Executive summary
The adverse impacts of climate change on human societies and nature are increasingly well-known and highlight the need to accelerate the transition to net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, by targeting carbon dioxide (CO2) and other GHGs such as methane, nitrous oxide and fluorinated gases. Cutting and eventually phasing out GHG emissions would limit the adverse impacts from climate change on economies while improving other environmental outcomes such as air and water quality. Delaying the transition towards net zero GHG emissions will maintain dependency on carbon-intensive capital and engender higher future costs. Successfully transitioning to net-zero GHG emissions requires effective mitigation policy packages, which include carbon pricing, a cost-effective policy instrument that also raises revenue that can be deployed to support the transition.
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