Carbon Pricing and Climate Justice

Les rendez-vous de science politique reçoivent Katja Biedenkopf, professeure à l'Université de Leuven. En collaboration avec la Chaire de recherche sur la démocratie et les institutions parlementaires et le Centre d'analyse des politiques publiques.

Many economists have strongly promoted carbon pricing policies. Since the early 1990s, first, carbon taxes and, then, emissions trading systems – which are the main types of carbon pricing policies – slowly diffused across the globe. According to the World Bank, 65 carbon pricing initiatives had been implemented in late 2021, covering 45 nation states and 34 subnational jurisdictions. According to economic theory, carbon pricing policies deliver the most cost-effective climate mitigation solutions. Yet, implementation in practice has turned out much more complicated. One important aspect that requires due attention is equity. Carbon pricing policies increase the costs of carbon-intensive products and services. This can disproportionally affect low-income households that struggle to shift to low-carbon alternatives. For this reason, several policy designs have been developed to cushion and remedy these effects. This paper traces the emergence and diffusion of carbon pricing policies and then focuses on their equity dimensions, identifying different styles and patterns.

La conférence sera prononcée en anglais.

Un léger lunch sera servi.

Au plaisir de vous y retrouver !