|
Sudbury, June 15, 2014 – Responding to pronouncements from the Australian and Canadian prime ministers that carbon taxes will kill jobs, Citizens' Climate Lobby points to a new economic study showing that a carbon tax will actually create millions of jobs in the coming decade if the revenue from that tax is returned to households. On June 9, 2014, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper heavily criticized the use of carbon taxes to curb the emission of heat-trapping gases that cause global warming. PM Harper said: "No country is going to undertake actions on climate change –no matter what they say, no country is going to take actions that are going to deliberately destroy jobs and growth in their country. We are just a little more frank about that…" But a new study from Regional Economic Models, Inc (REMI) shows that a steadily-rising tax on fossil fuels in the United States, with revenue returned to households, will reduce carbon-dioxide emissions 33 percent by 2025 while adding 2.1 million American jobs. After 10 years, the recycled revenue would add $80 billion annually to U.S. gross domestic product. “You don’t have to sacrifice jobs to cut greenhouse gas emissions,” added Mark Reynolds, executive director of Citizens Climate Lobby. “This study shows that with the right kind of carbon tax, you can add jobs to the economy. We’d be happy to arrange a briefing for Abbott and Harper to show them the good news.” "PM Harper has kept in lock-step with the US on climate and energy policies. This is not surprising given that our energy markets are de facto integrated. Thus, this REMI study has huge implications for Canada," says Cathy Orlando, Canadian Manager of Citizens' Climate Lobby. "Canadians should also note that the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), called on Canada to impose a carbon tax to fight climate change on June, 11, 2014." Since 1980, Regional Economic Models, Inc. (REMI) has provided economic impact studies for governmental and private-sector clients including the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC), consulting firms Booz Allen Hamilton and Ernst & Young, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). Earlier this year, reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the U.S. National Climate Assessment highlighted the disastrous impact of global warming already being felt around the world and in the U.S. Without concerted efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, warming is expected to exceed levels beyond which societies will be able to manage or adapt. “Clearly, inaction on global warming is no longer an option,” Reynolds said. “Until now, though, the assumption has been that we had to choose between the economy and the climate. That assumption is no longer valid. The REMI study shows we can take the required action without dragging down our economy. Leaders like prime ministers Abbott and Harper should now be encouraged to embrace this market-based solution.” Contact: Cathy Orlando, cathy@citizensclimatelobby.ca 705-929-4043 A copy of the REMI study can be downloaded here: 3-page summary of report from CCL Legislative Director Danny Richter: An Archive of the June 9th Media Briefing + Q&A can be viewed here: REMI author Scott Nystrom available at scott.nystrom@remi.com, (617) 967-0571 OECD calls on Canada to Impose Carbon Tax to Fight Climate Change A short youtube (less than three minutes) on carbon fee and dividend:
Download pdf of this CCCL Media Release HERE
|
