undefined | Better HN

0 pointsjohnchristopher7y ago0 comments

> An obvious step towards reducing CO2 emissions in the US would be raising taxes on gasoline.

It seems we are past the luxury of looking for incentives to reduce CO2 emissions. It's about reducing CO2 emissions right now, no proxy allowed, no IFTTT schemes.

There might be a bare minimum amount of CO2 allowed, it's fixed. We could monetize that but it doesn't matter. We can't go beyond that amount.

0 comments

gingerbread-man7y ago

> There might be a bare minimum amount of CO2 allowed, it's fixed.

I'm not sure I understand, are you suggesting an individual "carbon-quota" as a more radical way of slashing emissions than the "incentives" of a carbon tax? Depending on the tax rate, a carbon tax could produce reasonably expeditious results.

johnchristopherOP7y ago

Yes, I was unclear, sorry. What I mean is: "There might physically be an amount of CO2 that can be released without compromising our ecosystem. That amount is fixed. We can't borrow on it and repay it later."

jseliger7y ago

More importantly, while the grandparent poster is right about carbon taxes (and I support them), they require coordinated political action that is not happening right now in the United States. Again: let me reiterate that I agree they should happen, but the current dominant political party does not support them.

So the YC question is: What can be done outside of American politics?

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse