PERI - Environmental Justice and Carbon Pricing: Can They Be Reconciled?

by: James K. Boyce, Michael Ash, Brent Ranalli

March 01, 2023 | Journal Article

Headline: Reconciling Environmental Justice and Carbon Pricing
Intro Text: Carbon pricing has been criticized by environmental justice advocates on the grounds that it fails to reduce emissions significantly, fails to reduce the disproportionate impacts of hazardous co-pollutants on people of color and low-income communities, hits low-income households harder than wealthier households, and commodifies nature. PERI researchers James Boyce and Michael Ash along with Brent Ranalli argue that designing carbon pricing policy can still yield outcomes that are effective and equitable. They chart a “middle path” working from the “basic ethical principle” that the “gifts of Nature should be shared in equal measure by all.”
Type of publication: Journal Article
Research or In The Media: Research
Research Area: Economics for The Developing World
Publication Date: 2023-03-01
Authors:
- Add Authors: James K. Boyce
- Add Authors: Michael Ash
- Add Authors: Brent Ranalli
Show in Front Page Modules: No

Environmental Justice and Carbon Pricing: Can They Be Reconciled?

>> Read paper published in Global Challenges

Abstract

Carbon pricing has been criticized by environmental justice advocates on the grounds that it fails to reduce emissions significantly, fails to reduce the disproportionate impacts of hazardous co-pollutants on people of color and low-income communities, hits low-income households harder than wealthier households, and commodifies nature. Designing carbon pricing policy to address these concerns can yield outcomes that are both more effective and more equitable.

>> Also, read commentary based on paper, published in Advanced Science News: "Carbon pricing is not at odds with environmental justice"