Commonly thought of as the most powerful step to take in fighting climate change, a carbon tax would be charging emitters of carbon for all pollution emitted beyond a certain quantity.
It is seen as such an important step in fighting climate change due to giving industries incentive to lower their carbon emissions: by paying for any emission beyond the regulated amount. The tax could then be used to buy offsets and help mitigate emissions with other methods. Most countries do not have carbon taxes let alone ones significant enough to make it worth while for companies to stop polluting.
Somewhat significant is that the United States breaks from other world leaders with no National Carbon pricing policy, allowing for carbon pollution to have no cost for companies.
Of the worlds 5 largest polluting countries, only 3 have active or scheduled carbon taxes.
- China – A national plan
- USA – No national plan; has state and municipal plans.
- India – Has a national tax
- Russia – No plans.
- Japan – Has a national tax.
The United States environmental regulatory agency (EPA) has even calculated social costs (Read as burden shared by the public) to pollution, yet has instituted no national plan to create incentives for lower emissions.
There are different strategies for carbon pricing and a very common strategy associate with Carbon Tax is a Cap and Trade Program.
There are drawback to this concept; mainly that if not appropriately applied it will hurt the lower quantity polluters disproportionately.
What that means is the people wealthy enough to drive gasoline burning cars and fly with frequency still will at a higher cost, and those already struggling will just go without altogether.
The implementation of a carbon tax is necessary but must be done fairly to not penalize your average person.
the climate consultant 
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