Hello BEST members,

In 2010, a carbon tax was introduced in Ireland. Initially it focused 
on the taxing of kerosene, fuel oil, natural gas, liquid petroleum gas 
and marked gas oil. Last year, the carbon tax was set to expand in 2014, 
applying the carbon tax to all solid fuels. Garbage collection has 
become tax collection as household trash is weighed and residents are 
billed for items that are not recycled. Over time, fewer trash will 
result in fewer active landfills. As well, consumers experience a higher 
annual car registration fee on a car that produces more emissions, which 
in turn has sparked interest in manufacturers improving emission ratings 
of cars. For example, Mercedes has found ways to make powerful and 
luxurious cars with an emissions rating as low as Nissans.

As a result of the initial carbon tax, fuel prices have increased and 
purchase taxes have been established to discourage fossil fuel emissions 
and increase the demand for energy-efficient technologies. There’s 
been notice in carbon emission levels of companies dropping since 2008, 
some of which have dropped more than fifteen percent.

 From the beginning, carbon tax in Ireland was greatly accepted. The 
quick acceptance and shift in habits was a result of a need to raise 
significant revenue and change behavior. As well, the people were driven 
to become even greener and less dependent on fossil fuels. This desire 
for a change in habits was reinforced through taxing. The idea is that 
although carbon taxes make polluting expensive, green technologies 
become more affordable. As well, a high price on emissions will lead to 
more investment in cleaner energy sources, allowing Ireland’s wind 
power industry to thrive. The carbon tax was a government incentive and 
having struggled with debt, Ireland has managed to strengthen their 
economy through the carbon tax. After nearly three years, the carbon tax 
has raised nearly one billion euros. The Irish deficit went from 32.4% 
of GDP in 2010 to 8.3% of GDP in 2012.


Elisabeth Rosenthal, "Carbon Taxes Make Ireland Even Greener." The New 
York Times. December 27, 2012. 
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/28/science/earth/in-ireland-carbon-taxes-pay-off.html?pagewanted=all

Best,
-- 
Kimberly D. Hafner
Undergraduate Intern
2014 BioEnergy & Sustainability School
Soil and Water Science Department
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