Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Policy Insights From The Emf 32 Study On U.S. Carbon Tax Scenarios, Alexander R. Barron, Allen A. Fawcett, Marc A.C. Hafstead, James R. Mcfarland, Adele C. Morris

Environmental Science and Policy: Faculty Publications

The Stanford Energy Modeling Forum exercise 32 (EMF 32) used 11 different models to assess emissions, energy, and economic outcomes from a plausible range of economy-wide carbon price policies to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the United States. Here we discuss the most policy-relevant results of the study, mindful of the strengths and weaknesses of current models. Across all models, carbon prices lead to significant reductions in CO2 emissions and conventional pollutants, with the vast majority of the reductions occurring in the electricity sector. Importantly, emissions reductions do not significantly depend on the rebate or tax cut used to …