Economics for the Rest of Us Archives - Page 2 of 5

Feb 27 2019

Climate Roulette: The human side of climate risk

No one can fully get their mind around climate change. Confronting even one dimension of the problem—socioeconomic, environmental, cultural, geopolitical—can be overwhelming. Fortunately, we don’t have to know everything about climate change to confront it effectively. We can examine it through the lens of risk. As part our series on climate risk, this blog looks […]

Feb 20 2019

Climate Roulette: Risks too big to ignore

by Jonathan Arnold

Climate and Energy Catastrophic Risk Climate Change Climate Risk Economics for the Rest of Us

It’s a sobering time for anthropogenic climate change. Heatwaves, wildfires, droughts, and hurricanes continue to make headlines around the globe. At the same time, major reports are reminding us that the world is a long way from its climate commitments. We’re even further from limiting global temperature rise to the international target of 1.5ºC. Without […]

Nov 28 2018

We can mitigate climate change and adapt to it at the same time

by Brendan Frank

Climate and Energy Climate Change Economics for the Rest of Us

On Black Friday, the world was handed another inch-thick report detailing how climate change will pull us into the red. The Fourth National Climate Assessment, released by the Trump Administration, spelled out in stark terms how climate change will affect everything from America’s infrastructure to its national security, and how it will have to adapt. […]

Oct 24 2018

An explainer on the federal carbon pricing backstop

by Dale Beugin

Climate and Energy Pollution Carbon Pricing Carbon tax Climate Change Economics for the Rest of Us

Yesterday, the federal government announced the details of its carbon pricing “back-stop.” The plan lays out an approach to filling the gaps across Canada in provinces that aren’t implementing their own carbon pricing policies. It also considers the net impacts on people in those provinces. The upshot? The system is a simple, transparent approach to putting […]

Oct 3 2018

The diaper dilemma

by Jason Dion

Livable Cities Pollution Economics for the Rest of Us Sustainability Waste

Let’s talk about diapers. Like many new parents, I’m struggling: cloth or disposables? On the one hand, I want to go with the more sustainable choice. But on the other, I’m wondering why I should even have to think about it at all. Why can’t the environmental impacts of cloth and disposable diapers be reflected […]

A light rail transit car in Calgary on a fall day

Sep 26 2018

How carbon dividends affect incentives (hint: they don’t)

by Brendan Frank

Climate and Energy Carbon Pricing Carbon tax Economics for the Rest of Us Revenue Recycling

Clean Prosperity and EnviroEconomics published a report recommending the federal government rebate carbon-pricing revenues directly to households. The key takeaway: Implementing a carbon price and issuing these ‘carbon dividends’ could make a majority of Canadian households better off. It’s a valuable finding. But you might ask: What’s the point if you’re just giving the money […]

An Open Letter from Economists on Canadian Carbon Pricing

Economics for the Rest of Us