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

Green Car Congress

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 saved, tax revenue lost. Fuel use dropped from 4.6 billion per week.

Fuel Tax 243
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President Biden calls on Congress, States for fuel tax holiday; increase in refinery capacity

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In a letter sent to President Biden on 15 June, the AFPM (American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers) and the API (American Petroleum Institute) listed what they called seven realities about the current situtation: Refined product prices are determined on the global markets. As of 10 June, EIA reported 93.7%

Congress 259
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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). —Karplus et al. 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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Tax rates were below the low-end estimate of climate costs (EUR 30/tCO 2 ) for 97% of emissions. The report assesses the magnitude and coverage of taxes on energy use in 2015, and considers change between 2012 and 2015. 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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And yet, super-rich super polluters are flying around like there’s no climate crisis. Despite the disproportionate climate impact, private jets are untaxed in most European nations because of exemptions from the EU’s carbon pricing scheme (EU ETS) and untaxed kerosene. One operator reported an 11.3% —Andrew Murphy.

Emissions 418
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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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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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Under the scheme, around 500 of the largest emitters in Australia—facilities that have direct greenhouse gas emissions of 25,000 tonnes of CO 2 -equivalent per year or more (excluding emissions from transport fuels and some synthetic greenhouse gases)—will need to buy and surrender to the Government a permit for every tonne they produce.