Issue Area

Carbon Pricing

Overview

The United States has yet to put an economy-wide price on carbon emissions, but momentum is building in the states to do just that. State legislators are working towards tackling the challenges of climate change by setting a price on carbon. These leaders are collaborating across state and party lines on mechanisms to not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions but to improve public health and create good jobs in the process. Carbon pricing forces emitters to pay for their pollution, and the funds can be directed towards social and environmental programs.

View the Story of Washington's Cap-and-Invest
NCEL Point of Contact
Ava Gallo

Climate and Energy Program Manager

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Key Facts

Currently, polluters pollute for free, while the public pays with negative impacts on health, environment, and the climate. Putting a price on carbon shifts those costs back onto industry emitters.

Union of Concerned Scientists

The funds generated from carbon pricing can be directed towards the public good by funding climate mitigation or adaptation projects and investing in good-quality clean energy jobs.

Green for All

Businesses agree that putting a price on carbon would bring predictability to energy prices, provide long-term savings, and reduce the economic costs of climate change.

American Sustainable Business Council
Current Legislation Resources News and Events Environmental Justice
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Resources

NCEL Resources

Online Resources

Resources for the Future Carbon Pricing 101

Carbon Pricing 101: An introduction to carbon pricing, the benefits and design of pricing policies, and applications around the globe.

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Brookings Report

State Level Carbon Taxes: Options and Opportunities for Policymakers

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State Innovation Exchange Legislator Toolkit

This legislator toolkit provides guidance on how to support disadvantaged communities and displaced workers through a carbon pricing plan.

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Union of Concerned Scientists Primer

Carbon Pricing 101: When carbon emissions cost money, we produce less of them.

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Carbon Pricing and Environmental Justice

By prioritizing environmental justice communities in carbon pricing programs, states can ensure their policies are reducing overall pollution while helping to remediate current environmental injustices.

35% of State Investments

35% of carbon pricing revenue is the minimum many states are directing towards climate and clean energy projects for communities overburdened by pollution.

Environmental Justice Populations

Equitably directing carbon pricing funds requires defining a participatory, transparent, and representative stakeholder process.

Mandatory Pollution Control Regulations

It is important to implement measures which ensure that pollution does not intensify or shift to another community as a result of carbon pricing legislation.

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For more information please contact NCEL Climate and Energy Manager Ava Gallo

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