During the current BC election campaign there has been much discussion about the carbon tax. Some environmentalists have even endorsed the Liberal party based on the tax. But how does it stack up to other climate-related policies?Based on modeling doneby the Carbon Tax Center, I estimated that the BC Carbon Tax would reduce greenhouse gas (ghg) emissions by 570,000 tonnes annually at the current rate and by 901,000 tonnes by 2012 when the rate is raised to $30/tonne.I used a model developed by the Sightline Institute to estimate emissions from the Gateway Program. I calculated annual increases of 388,000 - 621,000 tonnes. The Gateway program alone would wipe out one to two thirds of the gains made by the Carbon Tax.During 2001 - 2006 the emissions from Oil and Gas production increased by 1,040,000 per year. The Liberals have committed to supporting this industry so it can be expected that these increases will continue. These two policies (Gateway and Petroleum Industry support) would result in an increase that is more than 50% higher than any reduction from the Carbon Tax.So why all the emphasis on the Carbon Tax when other policies will wipe out any gains made by the tax?Notes on calculations:Calculations used a baseline year of 2006 with total emissions of 62.3 Mt CO2 eq.The Carbon Tax Center's model uses 0.25% reduction in emissions from gasoline consumption at a $10/tonne tax and a 1.09% reduction at $30 / tonne. 36% of the BC's emissions are from transportation. So I estimated a reduction of 244,000 tonnes for a $30 tax. (62,300,000 x 36% x 1.09%).The Carbon Tax Center's model uses 0.25% reduction in emissions from gasoline consumption at a $10/tonne tax and a 1.09% reduction at $30 / tonne. 36% of the BC's emissions are from transportation. So I estimated a reduction of 244,000 tonnes for a $30 tax. (62,300,000 x 36% x 1.09%).The Carbon Tax Center's model uses a 3.06% reduction in emissions from "other" sources at $30 / tonne. I estimaed that another 45% of the BC's emissions would fall in this category. (consistant with other estimates that the carbon tax would cover about 70% of BC emissions). I estimated a reduction of 657,000 tonnes for a $30 tax. (62,300,000 x 45% x 3.06%).  This gives us a total annual reduction of 901,000 tonnes compared to baseline year when the tax reaches $30/ tonne.
Today the construction
site at SE False Creek
appears to be directing
cyclists on the Ontario
Bike route to use
the sidewalk
on 2nd avenue as a
detour.Â
Asking cyclists to use
this narrow sidewalk is
both dangerous and
illega...
Despite rhetoric to the
contrary it appears that
yesterday's BC Liberal
budget is designed to
increase greenhouse gas
emissions in this
province.The largest
sources of greenhouse gas
(ghg) emissions in our
province are from
transportation and the
...
bClimate Change
RallyOriginally uploaded
by Rob__
Despite rhetoric to the
contrary it appears that
yesterday's BC Liberal
budget is designed to
increase greenhouse gas
emissions in this
province.The largest
sources of greenhouse gas
(ghg) emissions ...
A recent article (also
here) is perpetuating one
of the most persistent
myths of modern society -
that cyclists aren't
paying their fare share
for road use.In fact
private car ownership is
one of he most subsidized
aspects of our
society. ...
Blog: recycled t-shirts become fragrant sachets by Past Member .
(0 comments
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discussions
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—
Use these little
(4″x4″)
handmade lavender-filled
sachets in place of
chemical dryer sheets in
your laundry or to
freshen a clothes
drawer. Made
only from used t-shirts
these cute messengers of
the 3R’s (reduce,
reuse, ... more
Blog: Dansko Women’s Solstice Clog by Past Member .
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discussions
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— You can see how classic
and casual this Dansko
clog is, but what about
Solstice’s hidden
charms? Part of the
Sausalito collection, it
also features
DRI-LEX®
moisture-wicking linings,
an open-cell foam footbed
for added shock
absorptio... more
Blog: How To Save Your Brain by Jenny D.
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discussions
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— Posted as '7 Ways to Save
Your Brain' in
Care2 by Mel,
selected from Natural
Solutions magazineA 2009
Mayo Clinic study found
that of 1,300 people ages
70 to 89, those that had
regularly engaged in
mentally challenging
activities, such as re... more
Blog: Unknowing by Mark D.
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0 discussions
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—
Unknowing
I suppose certainty about
the meaning of life is
something that I seek,
though I have never found
it. When young, at
the beginning of my
journey, I think I had
all that I needed; my
faith had all the
answers, well faith
accor... more
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