This article investigates efficient policies against global warming in the case of multiple greenhouse gases. In a dynamic optimization model conditions for an efficient combination of abatement activities are derived. It is shown how this solution can be decentralised by a system of emission charges. Since the determination of the charge rates should be based on a long time horizon, the impact of sequential planning methods is explored. The parameters of the model are specified with respect to the main greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, chlorofluorocarbons) and a scenario for an efficient charge system is calculated. For the main emission sources the tax base and the likely range of tax rates is derived. The results illustrate that efficient policy measures against global warming will not only affect the use of fossil fuels but will also impose a considerable burden on modern agriculture specialising in livestock and in intensive farming techniques. Copyright Kluwer Academic Publishers 1992Environmental policy, greenhouse effect, carbon equivalent taxation, sequential planning,
Standard-Nutzungsbedingungen:Die Dokumente auf EconStor dürfen zu eigenen wissenschaftlichen Zwecken und zum Privatgebrauch gespeichert und kopiert werden.Sie dürfen die Dokumente nicht für öffentliche oder kommerzielle Zwecke vervielfältigen, öffentlich ausstellen, öffentlich zugänglich machen, vertreiben oder anderweitig nutzen.Sofern die Verfasser die Dokumente unter Open-Content-Lizenzen (insbesondere CC-Lizenzen) zur Verfügung gestellt haben sollten, gelten abweichend von diesen Nutzungsbedingungen die in der dort genannten Lizenz gewährten Nutzungsrechte.
Terms of use:
Documents in
JEL-Classification. Q 20.Abstract. This paper investigates the economic implications of a comprehensive approach to sustainable greenhouse policies that strives to stabilise the atmospheric concentration of the five major greenhouse gases at an ecologically determined threshold level. In a theoretical optimisation model conditions for an efficient allocation of abatement effort among pollutants and over time are derived. The model is empirically specified and adapted to a dynamic GAMS-algorithm. By various simulation runs for a time period of 200 years (1990 to 2190), the economics of greenhouse gas accumulation are explored. In particular, the long-run cost associated with the above stabilisation target are evaluated for two different policy scenarios: a comprehensive approach that covers all major greenhouse gases simultaneously and a 'piecemeal approach' that is limited to reducing CO 2 or a selected subset of greenhouse gases, respectively. By comparing the simulation results, the potential losses in efficiency associated with a piecemeal approach are evaluated, and some policy implications are discussed.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.