May 1, 2024
Updated June 23, 2025
24 minute read
An Introduction to Carbon Pricing
Carbon pricing is a market-based strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by placing a direct cost on them. This approach aims to make activities that generate significant emissions more expensive, thereby incentivizing businesses and individuals to shift towards cleaner alternatives and more sustainable practices. It is a tool that seeks to internalize the external costs of climate change – meaning, it makes polluters pay for the environmental damage they cause. This fundamental principle is designed to drive economic and behavioral changes necessary to combat climate change.
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Reading list
We've selected 23 books
that we think will supplement your
learning. Use these to
develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a
deeper understanding of the topics covered in
Carbon Pricing.
This annual report from the World Bank provides a comprehensive overview of the current status of carbon pricing initiatives globally. It is an essential resource for understanding the real-world implementation and evolution of carbon pricing policies. This valuable reference tool for contemporary analysis.
Authored by a Nobel laureate, this book provides a survey of economic approaches to climate change policy, with significant discussion of carbon pricing as a key tool. It offers insights from a leading expert in the field. This is an important reference for understanding the economic rationale for climate policy.
Serves as a standard textbook in environmental economics and provides a strong foundation for understanding the economic principles behind environmental policies, including carbon pricing. It is particularly useful for gaining background knowledge on market failures and externalities. This book is commonly used in academic settings.
A widely used textbook in environmental economics that covers the theoretical underpinnings of environmental policy, including market-based instruments like carbon pricing. It provides a rigorous treatment of the economic concepts necessary to understand this topic. This core textbook for undergraduate and graduate students.
Provides a rigorous and accessible introduction to the economics of climate change mitigation, with a particular focus on carbon pricing.
A seminal report that examines the economics of climate change and the costs and benefits of action and inaction. While not solely focused on carbon pricing, it provides a powerful economic argument for climate action, which underpins the rationale for carbon pricing mechanisms. This crucial reference for understanding the broader economic context.
Presents a clear analysis of climate change policy, arguing for the effectiveness of a carbon tax. It examines the economic, social, administrative, and political merits of different approaches. This book is valuable for understanding the arguments supporting carbon taxation.
Delves into the institutional history and practical implementation of emissions trading systems. It analyzes past market-based environmental programs to draw lessons for the future of ETS. This valuable resource for understanding the evolution and practicalities of cap-and-trade.
Argues that a carbon tax is an efficient and fair way to address climate change. It explains how a carbon tax can be designed to benefit low-income households and appeal across the political spectrum. It useful resource for understanding the case for carbon taxes in a specific national context.
Examines the factors contributing to the success of cap-and-trade programs in various contexts. It provides valuable insights into the design and implementation features that lead to effective outcomes. This relevant resource for understanding the practicalities and effectiveness of ETS.
Part of a series on environmental taxation, this volume likely contains chapters examining the interplay between carbon pricing, economic growth, and environmental outcomes. It would offer insights into the broader economic implications of carbon pricing. This is relevant for understanding the economic context and impacts.
Explores the implementation and impact of British Columbia's carbon tax, offering a Canadian perspective on this policy instrument. It delves into the political and economic considerations and addresses common misconceptions. This provides a valuable case study for understanding carbon tax implementation.
Considered a classic in environmental economics, this book was influential in promoting the idea of integrating environmental considerations into economic policy. It provides historical context for the development of market-based environmental policies. This is valuable for understanding the intellectual history of the field.
Explores the organized efforts to obstruct climate action and shift the blame to individuals. While not solely focused on carbon pricing, it provides crucial context on the political and social challenges in implementing climate policies, including carbon pricing. This book is valuable for understanding the broader climate policy landscape and opposition.
A foundational paper in environmental economics that introduces the concept of externalities and potential solutions, including market-based approaches. While not specifically about carbon pricing, Coase's work provides the theoretical basis for using pricing mechanisms to address environmental problems. This classic text for understanding the economic theory.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the economics of climate change, including the science, impacts, and policy responses.
This report provides a comprehensive overview of carbon pricing in practice, including case studies from around the world.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the political economy of carbon pricing, including the challenges and opportunities for implementation.
This report provides a concise overview of carbon pricing, including its economic, environmental, and political implications.
This report provides a comprehensive overview of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies, including their technical, economic, and environmental implications.
This report provides an annual update on the global carbon budget, including emissions, sinks, and remaining carbon budget.
This report provides a guide for policymakers on carbon pricing, including design, implementation, and monitoring.
For more information about how these books relate to this course, visit:
OpenCourser.com/topic/tvaz9h/carbon
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