A carbon tax has long been heralded as an economy-wide tool to curb greenhouse gas emissions. As  the federal government continues to struggle in implementing comprehensive climate policy, leaders in Washington State have shown interest in a state carbon tax.

This report, by UW Evans School student Keibun Mori, examines the environmental and fiscal impacts of a carbon tax throughout the state. The report includes:

  • A theoretical discussion on a carbon tax, include its strengths and weaknesses.
  • A look at British Columbia’s pioneering carbon tax, and its effectiveness to date.
  • Frameworks and parameters used to build an open-source model for carbon tax analysis.
  • A proposed model for Washington State, and the required levels needed to achieve the state’s greenhouse gas objectives.
Washington State Carbon Tax
July 26, 2011