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On setting near-term climate policy while the dust begins to settle: The legacy of the Stern Review

journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-08, 11:07 authored by G Yohe, Richard TolRichard Tol, D Murphy
We review the explosion of commentary that has followed the release of the Stern Review: The Economics of Climate Change, and agree with most of what has been written. The Review is right when it argues on economic grounds for immediate intervention to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, but we feel that it is right for the wrong reasons. A persuasive case can be made that climate risks are real and increasingly threatening. If follows that some sort of policy will be required, and the least cost approach necessarily involves starting now. Since policy implemented in 2007 will not "solve" the climate problem, near term interventions can be designed to begin the process by working to avoid locking in high. carbon investments and providing adequate incentives for carbon sequestration. We argue that both objectives can be achieved without undue economic harm in the near term by pricing carbon at something on the order of $15 per ton as long as it is understood that the price will increase persistently and predictably at something like the rate of interest; and we express support for a tax, alternative to the usual cap-and-trade approach.

History

Publication status

  • Published

Journal

Energy and Environment

ISSN

0958-305X

Publisher

Multi-Science Publishing

Issue

5

Volume

18

Page range

621-633

Department affiliated with

  • Economics Publications

Full text available

  • No

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2012-04-18

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