September 30, 2008, 11:20 am
Emissions Impossible: Norway Taxes Carbon, Emissions Rise
Posted by Keith Johnson
The big debate over how to tackle climate change generally boils down to what kind of pain a climate plan will do to the economy; environmental benefits are generally assumed.

Cleaner, but not clean enough (AP)
But what if the economic pain doesn’t even translate into environmental gain? That’s what happened in Norway, a pioneer in putting a pricetag on carbon emissions almost twenty years ago. Net result? Carbon emissions have increased 15% since then. Leila Abboud writes today in the WSJ:

It wasn’t supposed to be this way. By making it more expensive to pollute, carbon taxes should spur companies and individuals to clean up. Norway’s sobering experience shows how difficult it is to cut emissions in the real world, where elegant theoretical solutions are complicated by economic changes, entrenched behaviors and political realities.
For economic changes, read “growth.” Norway’s growth in emissions has been a lot less than its economic growth over the same period, so the economy is clearly getting cleaner. But not enough to offset the simple math of more economic activity spewing more emissions into the atmosphere. Norway’s oil industry became one of the world’s cleanest since it started paying to pollute; but it’s grown so much in the meantime, oil and gas emissions have quadrupled, the WSJ notes.

People also learn to roll with punches. While $4 gasoline has changed some driving habits in the U.S., $10 gasoline hasn’t in Norway—car sales surged in the last decade and people still choose expensive commutes. Does that mean expectations that pricey gasoline will end America’s car addiction are overblown?

Then there’s politics. Norway isn’t alone in giving some economic sectors, like fishing, preferential treatment. China and India don’t even want to talk about emissions curbs. Germany and Poland are rapidly backpedaling on environmental commitments to save key industries at a time of economic strife. Australia has tied itself in knots trying to figure out how to clean up a coal-fired export economy without killing it.

Which brings us back to one of the bigger questions. If Norway can’t slash emissions almost two decades after slapping a hefty pricetag on carbon, what does that say about the belief that “making polluters pay” will automatically transform America’s economy?

   

Norway reduced carbon emissions per capita. Read the facts moron.

Emissions rose because the population increased.

Its no different then pointing out that even though gas milage has improved immensely since the 60s, gas consumption has gone up.

Think what those emmissions would have been had they not enacted the carbon tax.

Of course you have no viable plan yourself nor does any con. You just cry about everybody elses plan.

   

What are Kyoto's targets Derby???? or are you just spinning your facts to make Dions failed policy's look better than they really are?

BTW, I'm talking about Kyoto the treaty, not Dion's dog.

   

Hey Derby, why haven't you addressed Denmarks train wreck experience with carbon taxes?

Higher costs, higher unemplyment and full fledged recession courtesy of carbon taxes.

You should just vote for the Bloc as they have the same ideals to destroy Canada too.

   

I don't support kyoto. I support the carbon tax because I use very little in the way of carbon resources and I'll benefit from the tax break.

STILL, it beats the conservative climate plan which every single environmentalist pans as unworakble and useless.

If the carbon tax encourages Canadians to lower our per capita emmissions then it still means less emmissions then we normally would have even if emmissions go up.

learn your facts properly.

   

Thats because I'm following the plan thats based on the learning experience from the countries that succeeded and those that didn't.

Whats your plan sunshine? You don't have one. You just want to cry about everybodies elses.

I think you have taken up enough of my sunday. You have no viable plan to fight climate change so you just cry about everybody elses plans to do it.

   

You just admitted that you are just selfish. I would have guessed that anyway since your voting Liberal.

LOL. It's the same plan Derby. My God it's a wonder you made it this far in life without falling down a manhole.

First you admit that you are selfish and now you admit that the carbon tax does not work for everyone.