China imposing carbon tax
According to Chinese news outlet Xinhua, officials are moving forward with plans to impose a national carbon tax throughout the country.
China’s rapidly expanding economy has relied heavily on electricity sourced from coal-fired power plants, which produce some of the highest concentration of carbon emissions.
As a result, air quality in many regions of China have suffered from very poor air quality and in some cases dangerous smog.
The Chinese carbon tax is scheduled to go into effect in 2015, but in the meantime regional authorities are researching emission trading systems, similar to that in California.
As the world’s largest emitter, China’s decision to pursue both a carbon tax and other forms of emission reductions may push the US to address global climate change as well.
(2/19/13)