Canada Carbon Credit : Canada Implements Carbon Credit Trading Program
Canada has implemented an
economy-wide carbon pricing plan to help meet its Paris Agreement targets and transition
to a low-carbon economy. The core element of the plan is a federal carbon
pricing 'backstop' system that puts a price on greenhouse gas emissions. This
system operates through a carbon tax in some provinces and a cap-and-trade
emissions trading system in others.
The carbon tax applies to fossil fuels used in buildings and transportation. It
started at $20 per tonne of CO2 emissions in 2019 and will increase by $10 each
year until it reaches $50 per tonne in 2022. For , large industrial facilities
will be part of the output-based carbon pricing system. Under this system,
industrial facilities will pay carbon credit prices on a
portion of their emissions.
The cap-and-trade system sets a declining limit (or cap) on total emissions
from covered facilities. It issues emissions allowances equal to the cap, which
covered facilities can trade amongst themselves. Facilities that emit less than
their allowance can sell excess allowances to others that need them to comply.
This flexibility allows the to find the
lowest cost pathways to reducing emissions.
Eligible Emission Sources And Canada Carbon Credit
Certain
emission sources and facilities are covered under Canada's carbon pricing plan.
For the carbon tax, this includes gasoline, diesel, natural gas, propane and
heating oil used in buildings and transportation.
For the cap-and-trade system, facilities covered are generally those that emit
over 10,000 tonnes of CO2e annually. This includes electricity generation,
mining, pulp and paper mills, petroleum refineries and manufacturing
facilities. Agriculture, waste and smaller industrial facilities emit below the
threshold. Transportation and buildings are covered under carbon taxes rather
than cap-and-trade.
Establishing A Carbon Credit Trading
Once
the carbon price is in effect, covered facilities need to either reduce their
emissions, purchase allowances from others with excess allowances, or pay the
carbon price. This establishes supply and demand dynamics that allow for carbon
credit trading.
The federal government acts as the central authority overseeing the carbon s.
It sets the emissions caps, issues allowances, monitors compliance and enforces
penalties. A public tracking system is used to record allowance holdings and
trades.
Facilities can trade allowances on the secondary through private brokers or at auctions hosted
by the government. Allowance prices are determined by supply and demand. Facilities seeking the
lowest costs will purchase from others who abated below their allocated limit.
Over time, as caps decline, prices should rise as lower-cost options are
exhausted.
Proceeds And Revenue Recycling
Revenue
collected from carbon pricing stays in the province it is generated. Provinces
collect carbon tax proceeds and the federal government collects auction
allowance proceeds for the cap-and-trade system. The majority of revenues are
recycled back to residents through tax cuts and rebates.
Studies show a majority of families will get more back than they pay in carbon
costs due to the recycling. Low and middle-income families especially benefit
as they pay a smaller percentage of income on emissions-intensive goods and
receive higher rebates. This mitigates potential regressive impacts of the
carbon price.
Revenue is also used to fund
other programs supporting the transition like incentive programs for green
technologies and infrastructure. Collectively, carbon pricing aims to change
emissions without economic harm by incentivizing reductions through signals while offsetting costs to consumers .
Impact On Emissions And The Economy
While
still early, analysis suggests carbon pricing is influencing decisions and
reducing emissions as intended. A federal review found emissions fell between
2005 and 2016 in provinces with existing carbon pricing compared to those
without. Most economists also agree moderate carbon prices like Canada's can
reduce emissions at relatively low economic cost.
The studies from the National Bank of Canada, International Monetary Fund and
others project Canada's plan will lead to substantial emission cuts from fuel
switching and technology adoption while modestly impacting GDP. By changing the
relative prices of goods and services, it aims to transition production and
consumption to cleaner options over the coming decades. If successful, Canada's
plan offers a model for implementing -based carbon pricing policy on a broad
scale.
*Note:
1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it
Get more insights on this topic:
Author Bio:
Money Singh
is a seasoned content writer with over four years of experience in the market
research sector. Her expertise spans various industries, including food and
beverages, biotechnology, chemical and materials, defense and aerospace,
consumer goods, etc. (https://www.linkedin.com/in/money-singh-590844163
)
Comments
Post a Comment