#Carbon Series: Conservative Republicans Propose a Carbon Tax

Topic:Climate Change and Putting a Price on CarbonIn This Episode:[01:10] Carbon series co-host Michael Green is introduced.[01:40] Michael shares what he hopes to bring to this #carbon podcast series.[02:22] Mike shares his excitement for sustainability and equity at the sub-national level.[02:48] Michael tells about CABA’s (Climate Action Business Alliance) expansion efforts to help state-based networks.[03:31] Mike mentions the list of diverse topics that he and Michael have come up with for this new series and introduces what today’s episode will be about.[04:32] Michael conveys his thoughts regarding the Republican party’s view on climate change.[05:01] Mike describes the carbon tax proposal.[08:28] Catrina Rorke is introduced and talks about R Street.[10:44] Catrina elaborates on carbon pricing.[11:24] Michael agrees with carbon pricing and says that they will be talking about what to do with the revenue.[11:49] Catrina answers the question of whether carbon pricing and the idea of putting a market signal on an externality is a conservative idea.[13:06] Catrina speaks about the idea of a direct rebate to taxpayers.[14:37] Catrina explains how the R Street approach would work and if it would be fair to those who are paying taxes.[17:19] Catrina expresses her thoughts on putting a price on carbon.[19:12] Catrina shares if climate change is a populist-enough issue for the Republican party.[20:28] Catrina gives her insights of how effective a carbon tax would be.[24:53] Catrina comments on the increase of the carbon tax and how to ensure an environmental outcome from a price signal.[28:03] Michael discusses information on what he’s been following regarding sustainability, the future of climate change, and the outdoor-sports industry.[30:22] Mike talks about an article he read about the Alberta tar sands and the Keystone XL pipeline.[32:24] Michael provides information about his interest in the pipeline.[32:54] Mike shares what he knows about ExxonMobil and supplies an issue with the tar sands.[33:33] Michael mentions that Canada is going to be putting a price on carbon.Guest:Catrina Rorke is senior fellow and energy policy director for the R Street Institute. She founded and leads the institute’s energy program, which works to clarify a well-defined and limited role for government in shaping decisions about infrastructure, wholesale and retail electricity, research and development, fuel choice and diversity, and climate adaptation and mitigation.Follow Catrina on TwitterOrganization:The R Street Institute is a non-profit, non-partisan, public policy research organization (“think tank”). Our mission is to engage in policy research and outreach to promote free markets and limited, effective government.Take Away Quotes:“As an organization that’s dedicated to conservative free-market principles, the carbon tax sort of checked the boxes, and so R Street has long advocated for a revenue-neutral form of a carbon price, especially one that includes preemption for regulatory programs that currently try to price carbon into the market.”“It’s certainly a conservative idea to use the lightest touch possible to correct a market failure. So, when you look at a role for government, as a conservative you don’t want government to expand beyond addressing substantive market failures, where the market isn’t addressing problems on its own. And climate change is a really perfect example of this. We know that there’s risk related to anthropogenic emissions, the market isn’t pricing that on its own, and so without the...