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Journal article

Carbon markets are not enough

Why putting a price on carbon is just the first step in climate policy, especially amid economic inequality.

Frank Ackerman / Published on 22 July 2010
Citation

Ackerman, F. (2010). Carbon markets are not enough. Ackerman, F. (2010). Carbon Markets Are Not Enough. Trade and Environment Review, 2009/2010: 26-30. http://www.unctad.org/Templates/Page.asp?intItemID=3723&lang=1.

Writing in the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development’s Trade and Environment Review 2009/2010, Ackerman argues that setting a price for carbon emissions is only the beginning of climate policy – not the end.

While carbon prices will change energy costs, energy consumption and carbon emissions, relying on carbon markets alone would be ineffective and inequitable, so other policies are needed to offset the equity impacts of higher fuel costs and spur the development of new low-carbon technologies.

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