A carbon tax will restore US climate leadership in the international community
Patnaik and Kennedy 21 – Sanjay Patnaik, Director for Regulation and Markets, Bernard L. Schwartz Chair in Economic Policy Development, Fellow in Economic Studies. Kelly Kennedy, Former Senior Research Assistant, Center on Regulations and Markets. “Why the US should establish a carbon price either through reconciliation or other legislation,” October 7, 2021, Brookings Institution, https://www.brookings.edu/research/why-the-us-should-establish-a-carbon-price-either-through-reconciliation-or-other-legislation/ //ellie
4. Restore the U.S.’ global reputation as a leader on climate issues
Over the past few decades, the United States’ global reputation on climate issues has steadily declined. While other countries and nations, such as the EU, have set ambitious climate goals, the U.S. continues to grapple with . It has rejected membership in both of the key global climate accords of the past two decades—the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement—even though it recently rejoined the latter. Rather than government leaders and policymakers committing to significant action on climate change, the majority of reductions in emissions over the past decade have been through shifts in fossil fuel usage and increased efficiency in industry.
A carbon price could help the U.S. reverse its lagging global standing on climate issues and demonstrate its commitment to reducing GHG emissions using the most modern and effective techniques available.
CONCLUSION
In order to achieve its climate targets, the U.S. will need a carbon price. This will not only enable the U.S. to meet its emissions reduction goals, but also support American firms in a future low-carbon economy and signal the U.S.’ commitment to effective climate mitigation policies to the larger global community.