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US COVID-19 mitigation efforts resulting in significant decline in traffic, emissions and fuel-tax revenues

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This puts the US on track to meet its annual goals for GHG reduction under the Paris Climate Accord. If traffic remained reduced for one year, the reduction in VMT would allow California to meet half of its 2050 climate change target. Fuel use dropped from 4.6 It also resulted in fuel-tax revenue reductions, which vary by state.

Fuel Tax 243
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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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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. These changes mainly result from fuel tax reforms in China, India and Mexico, the report said.

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

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The study highlights the continued use of private jets last year despite the pandemic. And yet, super-rich super polluters are flying around like there’s no climate crisis. T&E calculates that a jet fuel tax applied proportionately to flight distances could raise €325 million if applied to all flights departing from the EU and UK.

Emissions 418
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Study finds higher gasoline taxes do not disproportionately impact the poor, especially in developing countries

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However, a new study by researchers at the University of Gothenburg (Sweden) finds that middle- and high-income earners are generally affected the most by gasoline taxes, especially in poor countries, rather than poor people. Sterner is lead author in the UN climate panel’s (IPCC) working group Mitigation of Climate Change.

Tax 239
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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. McCollum et al.

Carbon 231
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Study concludes significant additional transport policy interventions will be required for Europe to meet its GHG reduction goal

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Without significant additional policy interventions to induce market penetration of breakthrough passenger car and aircraft technologies, the overall European (EU27) greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction goals for 2050 will be difficult to meet, according to a new study by researchers from the University of Cambridge, Stanford University and MIT.