Lhe could destroy our planet if nothing is done to restore the meaning of international solidarity and responsibility in our complex world. But the people and the States engaged in decarbonation efforts support sacrifices, while the benefits of these efforts return to all of humanity. The temptation is then great for each country to enjoy the sacrifices of others without making it itself. It is the Trumpian climate strategy, which testifies to a uninhibited predation, without consideration of the planetary consequences. On the environment, it is a pure and simple desertion in the face of the world war for the climate. The Americans' release from the Paris Agreement is a powerful sting to breathe doubt about our climate ambition, particularly in Canada and Europe. Not reacting or aligning us on the Americans would condemn us, we like the rest of the world.
Economists agree that the most effective tool for reducing greenhouse gas emissions is a significant price, tax or levy on carbon emissions. By remedying a well -known market failure, a carbon tax sends a powerful price signal that can guide economic agents – consumers, producers and investors – to a low carbon future thanks to technological innovation, energy sobriety and the development of green infrastructure. But if everyone seeks to ignore the costs of the transition, they inevitably fall on citizens. “We all know what to do, but we do not know how to be re -elected once we have done it”, was thus able to summarize Jean-Claude Juncker, former president of the European Commission.
Eliminate “carbon leaks”
The European Union (EU) and Canada share a strong commitment to reducing CO emissions2. In current geopolitical chaos, a climatic coalition of these two economic powers would make their climatic policies more credible, more effective and more robust in the face of the attacks of governments that refuse to respect the climate. The pooling of their emission license markets and the extension of their coverage to all CO emissions2 would allow them to achieve their climatic objective at a lower cost. To promote social acceptance, carbon pricing should have no impact on the tax burden: if all the revenues generated by this tax were redistributed to citizens, this would significantly contribute to the protection of low -income categories, while maintaining incentives for sobriety and decarbonation.
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Source: Lemonde