The National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy is making quite a recommendation to the Canadian government: cut it out, or cough it up.
This afternoon as we ate a bowl of soup, my husband and I watched a report about the NRTEE’s recommendations.
The National Round Table has boldly suggested that an incentive for cutting out greenhouse gas emissions should take the form of a tax break, while those companies who do not abide by emission minimums should be taxed for adding pollution to our atmosphere.
Canada has relatively high standards when it comes to cutting down greenhouse gas emissions. Our current Prime Minister’s long-term goals include cutting greenhouse gas emissions 60-70% from 2006 levels by the year 2050. According to the NDP, however, since Prime Minister Stephen Harper took office, emissions have risen 25%.
The David Suzuki Foundation quickly responded to the National Round Table’s recommendation, stating, “The report shows that the most effective policy is a broad economy-wide carbon price, either in the form of a greenhouse gas tax or a cap and trade system, accompanied by building regulations and transportation regulations.”
My question is, Is this a realistic way to reduce Canada’s carbon footprint? My husband’s reaction to the story is that big businesses will not want to spend the funds required to upgrade their systems and improve their greenhouse gas output levels. He thinks that large companies will simply be encouraged to move their operations to other jurisdictions where there are no emission standards or watchdog agencies.
He got me thinking, “It has to start somewhere!” I would like to believe that Canadians, ALL Canadians, including Big Business, have a responsibility to set an example for other countries, and for its own citizens. It could be a slippery, slope, though, and not one all Canadians will be willing to approach. If industry can be taxed for emitting carbon, it stands to reason that individual citizens could also be taxed in the future, which would have enormous implications for the automotive industry.
Do you think applying a price to carbon is a reasonable and realistic way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions?
