A carbon tax is a simple solution to the complex problem of climate change. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the biggest contributor to global warming. CO2 is generated whenever fossil fuels such as oil, gas, or coal are burned. A tax on these emission would create a financial incentive for people and business to conserve energy and use alternatives like solar and wind. People and businesses have developed
an incredible ability to optimize their finances. We carefully consider the cost of things every day to find ways to stay on top, or get ahead, of our finances. A carbon tax would harness this natural tendency we have to live our lives in this way. It's a drive more universal across the population than our drives to do good in the world or to do just about anything else in our lives. Another way to think about it is that it is currently free for companies and consumers to dump the waste products of burning fossil fuels into the air. A carbon tax is a fee that would be levied on fossil fuels based on their contributions to atmospheric CO2 and global warming. It would raise the cost of fossil fuels. These costs would likely be passed on to the end products produced from or with fossil fuels such as: gasoline, electricity, computers, food, etc. Products that use less fossil fuel to produce, or in operation, would be cheaper than products that use more. Alternative energy which produces little or no CO2 would become more cost effective relative to fossil fuels. You don't often hear people asking to be taxed, which is why its a catchy statement. "Carbon Tax Me" means "I'm ready to pay for my carbon footprint".
