Short Wave The Social Cost of Carbon Is An Ethics Nightmare
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Feb 9, 2023 Rebecca Hersher, an NPR climate correspondent, dives into the complexities of the social cost of carbon. She explains how this crucial figure, currently $51 but proposed to rise to $190 per ton, encapsulates the extensive damages from carbon emissions. Hersher discusses the ethical tightrope of valuing human life and environmental impacts in monetary terms. The conversation articulates the potential for this shift to reshape climate policy and the moral dilemmas tied to how we assess the cost of climate change on society.
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Social Cost of Carbon
- The social cost of carbon is a crucial tool for the EPA to regulate emissions.
- It represents the cost of all damages from one ton of carbon emissions.
Trump Administration Example
- The Trump administration used a low social cost of carbon to justify weaker emission regulations for cars.
- This allowed vehicles to emit more pollution.
Proposed Increase
- The current social cost of carbon is $51, but the EPA proposes raising it to $190.
- This change could significantly impact how the government addresses climate change.