More Gas, Less Coal, and Less CO2? Unilateral CO2 Reduction Policy with More than One Carbon Energy Source

Julien Daubanes (), Fanny Henriet and Katheline Schubert

No 6697, CESifo Working Paper Series from CESifo

Abstract: We examine an open economy’s strategy to reduce its carbon emissions by replacing its consumption of coal—very carbon intensive—with gas—less so. Unlike the standard analysis of carbon leakage, unilateral carbon-reduction policies with more than one carbon energy source may turn counter-productive, ultimately increasing world emissions. Thus, we establish testable conditions as to whether a governmental emission-reduction commitment warrants the exploitation of gas, and whether such a strategy increases global emissions. We also characterize the extent to which this unilateral policy makes the rest of the world’s emission commitments more difficult to meet. Finally, we apply our results to the case of the US.

Keywords: unilateral climate policy; carbon emission reduction; shale gas; gas-coal substitution; coal exports; carbon leakage; US policy; counter-productive policy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: F18 H73 Q41 Q58 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-ene and nep-env
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Working Paper: More Gas, Less Coal, and Less CO2? Unilateral CO2 Reduction Policy with More than One Carbon Energy Source (2017)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ces:ceswps:_6697

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