China’s Green Energy Path
A
growing number of Chinese scholars have trumpeted China as an emerging
green giant for its clean energy production and its promises to
aggressively cut carbon emissions. Yet as the “world’s factory,” China
is the victim of heavy pollution, and releases more CO2 than any other
nation. The time therefore seems ripe for a carbon tax and the
strengthening of renewable energy subsidies in China, which would not
only mitigate carbon emissions, but would also stimulate technological
innovation.
Why is a carbon tax a good idea? For a start, some estimates suggest
levying a carbon tax could help encourage improvements in industrial
energy efficiency of anywhere from 5 percent to 25 percent. And levying a
carbon tax can also help save energy by increasing fossil fuel prices.
In 2009, Beijing’s municipal government imposed a carbon tax on
gasolinefor the first time. Despite car numbers increasing by 40
percent, gasoline consumption increased ...
Read More...
No comments:
Post a Comment