Carbon

  • Publications by Dieter Helm

    Shale Gas and the Low Carbon Transition in Europe

    1st September 2011

    Published in The Era of Gas - volume 2

    Carbon Europe Gas

  • Media articles by Dieter Helm

    A carbon border tax can curb climate change

    6th September 2010

    Article in the Financial Times As global growth picks up after the economic crisis, carbon emissions are going back up too. With China and India back on track to double their gross domestic product every decade, and with coal providing nearly 30 per cent of global energy, the chances of stabilising and reducing emissions are low. Indeed, little progress has been made in the last two decades. Only recessions lower emissions – and then only for a short time... PDF HERE

    Carbon

  • Financial Times: Expert points to window for fossil fuel tax

    2nd August 2010

    A controversial new tax on carbon has become politically feasible, according to an Oxford economist, who says voters’ resistance is being outweighed by the government’s urgent need to raise more revenue. Financial Times article

    Carbon

  • Publications by Dieter Helm

    The Case for a Carbon Tax by Dieter Helm in "Greener, Cheaper" edited by Simon Less, Policy Exchange, July 27th 2010

    26th July 2010

    See the launch presentation HERE on Youtube. (Prof Helm's contribution begins 23 minutes 17 seconds into the broadcast.)

    Carbon

  • 'Carbon tax' is sensible, and perhaps inevitable, advocate says

    21st November 2009

    From the LA Times: Dieter Helm of Oxford says climate change policy should focus not on carbon production, but carbon consumption. A tax on carbon-heavy activities places the emphasis where it belongs, he says. By Henry Chu Reporting from Oxford, England <br /> With the global climate change summit in Copenhagen just a few weeks away, gloom has settled in many quarters over the increasing likelihood that a robust international treaty to lower carbon emissions is out of reach, at least...

    Carbon

  • Emissions reductions are misleading, says government's new science adviser

    1st October 2009

    Britain's reductions in emissions of greenhouse gases are misleading, according to the government's new chief scientist. Professor David MacKay told the BBC that greenhouse gas emissions created by Britons are probably twice as bad as official figures suggest. The figures are distorted because developing countries now made the goods that Britain buys, he said. "Our energy footprint has decreased over the last few decades and that's largely because we've exported our industry," MacKay said. "...

    Carbon Climate Environment

  • Trust me – we have a serious carbon credibility problem

    26th September 2009

    By Tim Harford in the FT: My daughters (average age: four) have a serious credibility problem. “Daddy, if you read just one more story, then we’ll go to sleep.” “Mummy, if you give me a snack now, I promise I’ll eat up all my dinner.” You know what, my darlings? We just don’t believe you, so there’ll be no extra story and no snack. Such troubles are not solely the preserve of little girls. Managers promise performance bonuses, workers do not...

    Carbon Climate Energy

  • Taming the carbonivores

    17th September 2009

    From The Economist: FRANCE’S president, Nicolas Sarkozy, does not like to do things by halves. In characteristically grandiose fashion he described his plan to introduce a carbon tax as “the only choice that could guarantee…the future of our planet”. If it goes ahead, France would be the first big country to adopt such a tax, which exists in Scandinavia. But the proposal has already run into fierce hostility, from consumers, opposition parties—and even greens. Mr...

    Carbon Climate Europe

  • Carbon market clouded by uncertainty

    From the BBC: By Damian KahyaBBC News The offices of London's carbon trading companies are a little quieter than usual. The firms - many based in the City - buy and sell one of the world's newest commodities: carbon dioxide. The trade in such permits allows polluters to pay for emissions reductions made elsewhere. The market could be huge, but its future is now uncertain. It depends on how governments decide to tackle climate change beyond 2012. The trade was first created by the Kyoto protocol...

    Carbon