The structure of the climate debate

Richard Tol

Energy Policy, 2017, vol. 104, issue C, 431-438

Abstract: First-best climate policy is a uniform carbon tax which gradually rises over time. Civil servants have complicated climate policy to expand bureaucracies, politicians to create rents. Environmentalists have exaggerated climate change to gain influence, other activists have joined the climate bandwagon. Opponents to climate policy have attacked the weaknesses in climate research. The climate debate is convoluted and polarized as a result, and climate policy complex. Climate policy should become easier and more rational as the Paris Agreement has shifted climate policy back towards national governments. Changing political priorities, austerity, and a maturing bureaucracy should lead to a more constructive climate debate.

Keywords: Climate policy; Political economy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: F53 P16 Q54 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (26)

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Related works:
Working Paper: The structure of the climate debate (2016)
Working Paper: The Structure of the Climate Debate (2016)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:enepol:v:104:y:2017:i:c:p:431-438

DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2017.01.005

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