The Carbon Tax Question

Clarifying Canada’s Most Consequential Policy Debate

Thomas F. Pedersen

• Publisher: Harbour Publishing
• Year: 2024
• Print ISBN: 9781990776977
• eBook ISBN: 9781990776984
• Topic: Politics & International Relations
• Subtopic: Environment & Energy Policy
• Index: Politics & International Relations

A timely and insightful exploration of the implementation and impact of British Columbia's carbon tax, delving into the political and economic considerations behind the tax, and addressing misconceptions.

Carbon taxation has become a political, social and economic hot potato in Canada (and beyond) and a major election issue. What is less known is that British Columbia established its own revenue-neutral carbon taxation policy in 2008. The compelling story of how and why has not yet been told. This timely book, written from a Canadian perspective and for a lay audience by climate policy expert Dr. Thomas F. Pedersen, highlights the key players and experts involved in the evolution and implementation of British Columbia's carbon tax policy, as well as how the BC model compares to other carbon-taxation attempts around the world, including a remarkably convoluted debacle in Australia. Pedersen argues that, despite a common perception of carbon taxes as a horrendous imposition on the Canadian public and business community, BC's carbon tax policy is in fact a template for the world and a gold standard for public policy to effectively counter climate change.

Encompassing politics, climate action, economics, science and political history, The Carbon Tax Question is a must-read for policymakers, economists, and environmentalists—and all citizens interested in socially-just, equitable solutions to address climate change.

Table of contents

• Half Title Page
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Dedication
• Table of Contents
• Prologue
• Chapter 1: How the Mountain Pine Beetle Brought Global Warming to the Forefront in British Columbia
• Chapter 2: The Rise of Climate Action The Role of Gordon Campbell
• Chapter 3: British Columbia’s Carbon Tax “A template for the world”
• Chapter 4: Down Under I: The Hawke-:zwsp:Keating-:zwsp:Howard Years and Australian Climate Action Dithering
• Chapter 5: Down Under II: Yo-yo Politics and Australian Carbon Pricing The Rudd-:zwsp:Gillard Years
• Chapter 6: Down Under III: Yo-yo Politics and Australian Carbon Pricing The Demise
• Chapter 7: Cutting Off One’s Nose to Spite One’s Electoral Prospects The 2008–09 Campaign to “Axe the Tax” in British Columbia
• Chapter 8: Going Wobbly on Climate Action The Christy Clark Years in British Columbia, 2011–17
• Chapter 9: How to Sell a Carbon Tax Three Stories
• Chapter 10: And Now to Canada: Have We Not Yet Learned?
• Endnotes
• Acknowledgements
• Index
• About the Author