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OECD: governments should make better use of energy taxation to address climate change; “meaningful” increases limited to road sector

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Taxes are effective at cutting harmful emissions from energy use, but governments could make better use of them. Tax rates were below the low-end estimate of climate costs (EUR 30/tCO 2 ) for 97% of emissions. Comparing taxes between 2012 and 2015 yields a disconcerting result. of emissions.

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Australia PM Gillard announces carbon pricing plan; transport fuels exempt, but lowered fuel tax credits to bring carbon price to some businesses

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Australia Prime Minister Julia Gillard unveiled Australia’s carbon pricing plan—a core element in a new clean energy plan—in a short address to the nation. The Government intends to introduce legislation to underpin the carbon pricing mechanism into Parliament in the second half of 2011. Click to enlarge.

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T&E: Rising use of private jets sends CO2 emissions soaring

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finds that private jets are 10 times more carbon-intensive than airliners on average, and 50 times more polluting than trains in terms of CO 2 emitted per passenger-km. And yet, super-rich super polluters are flying around like there’s no climate crisis. The report, Private jets: can the super-rich supercharge zero emission aviation?

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Study finds behavior-influencing policies remain critical for mass market success of low-carbon vehicles

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Policies to entice consumers away from fossil-fuel powered vehicles and normalize low carbon, alternative-fuel alternatives, such as electric vehicles, are vital if the world is to significantly reduce transport sector carbon pure-emissions, according to a new study. Note the different scaling used in the graphs.

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MIT study finds fuel economy standards are 6-14 times less cost effective than fuel tax for reducing gasoline use

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In a study published in the journal Energy Economics , MIT researchers have found that a fuel economy standard is at least six to fourteen times less cost effective than a fuel tax when targeting an identical reduction in cumulative gasoline use (20% by 2050). Paltsev, M. Babiker, J.M. 2012.09.001.

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Obama climate plan calls for new fuel economy standards for heavy-duty vehicles post-2018; cleaner fuels and investment in advanced fossil energy

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Among the transportation-related elements of US President Barack Obama’s new climate action plan, which he is outlining today in a speech at Georgetown University, is the development of new fuel economy standards for heavy-duty vehicles post-2018. Preparing the US for the impacts of climate change. Earlier post.).

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UK Government Pre-Budget Report Offers Tax Exemptions for EVs, £30M in Additional Support for Low-Carbon Vehicles; Annual Fuel Tax Increases and End of Duty Differential for Biofuels

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A 100% first year tax allowance will also be provided for the purchase of electric vans subject to State Aid clearance. million) to support low carbon vehicle development, including an expansion of the Technology Strategy Board’s ultra-low carbon vehicles competition. The PBR also has news of an additional £30 million (US$48.5

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