Personal carbon trading recommended

The Committee believes that personal carbon trading has the potential to drive greater emissions reductions than green taxation and could guarantee a reduction in emissions because it places a ceiling on the carbon available for consumption, rather than seeking to reduce demand. Such a measure could be more effective at incentivising behavioural change.

The Committee also sees benefits for individual households, since they would not be penalised. Better explanation by Government of the way that the carbon trading system works is required if the public is to be convinced and the reasons for promoting this policy should be emphasised.

Reasons for promoting the personal carbon trading system include:

• The essential need to reduce emissions.
• The need for personal responsibility in reducing emissions.
• That this is a fairer system than higher taxes.

Public persuasion is dependent on Government's own commitment to reducing emissions and the priority given to climate change. Although the Government has decided to wind down the work in this area on the grounds of high implementation costs and public resistance, the Committee believes that the Government should promote this approach as a way of meeting its 2050 carbon emissions targets.

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