

Pricing Nature
Yale Center for Business and the Environment, Yale Carbon Charge, and Yale Tobin Center for Economic Policy
Pricing Nature is a limited-series podcast from the Yale Center for Business and the Environment and the Yale Carbon Charge. It tells a story about the economics, politics, and history of carbon pricing, which many argue should play a critical role in any national climate policy. We feature conversations with carbon pricing experts from government, academia, and civil society. Join us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or anywhere else you listen. To learn more, visit our website, pricingnature.substack.com.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Feb 17, 2022 • 2min
Welcome Back to Pricing Nature
Pricing Nature is back for a second season. This year, we’ll explore carbon pricing beyond cap-and-trade and carbon taxes. We’ll cover creative ways of pricing carbon, from fees inside companies to markets for offsets. We’ll even explore a new idea for payments to reduce carbon in the atmosphere. We’ll speak with heroic local organizers, academic experts at Yale and beyond, YouTube royalty, one of the greatest living Sci-Fi authors, three commissioners of state-level climate policy, leaders at environmental nonprofits, and young advocates from around the world. To learn more, visit our website, pricingnature.substack.com.

May 10, 2021 • 1h 1min
6. Carbon Pricing Hits a Brick Wall on the Left
In the final episode of Season 1, Casey, Naomi, and Jacob talk about the future of progressive climate policy. They speak with Michael Méndez (Assistant Professor at UC-Irvine, author of Climate Change from the Streets), Danny Cullenward (energy economist and lawyer at Stanford, author of Making Climate Policy Work), Keya Chatterjee (Executive Director of US Climate Action Network), and David Roberts (author of the Volts Newsletter), to understand what kind of climate policy progressives favor. Read more at pricingnature.substack.com.

Apr 22, 2021 • 60min
5. The Conservative Case for Carbon Pricing
In today’s episode, Casey, Maria, and Naomi talk to conservative climate activists about why they support carbon pricing policy. We’ll hear from former Congressman Bob Inglis (RepublicEN.org), Kiera O’Brien (Young Conservatives for Carbon Dividends), former Congressman Carlos Curbelo, and Jerry Taylor (Niskanen Center). Read more at pricingnature.substack.com

Apr 5, 2021 • 27min
Bonus Episode: Climate Stories
In this special episode, Casey guides us through the stories of our conservative and progressive guests who are advocating for climate action. We’ll hear about the power of science, family, and faith to change hearts and minds. Featuring former congressman Bob Inglis (RepublicEN.org), Keira O’Brien (Young Conservatives for Carbon Dividends), former Congressman Carlos Curbelo, Jerry Taylor (Niskanen Center), Saya Ameli Hajebi (Sunrise Movement), and Keya Chatterjee (US Climate Action Network). Read more at pricingnature.substack.com.

Mar 22, 2021 • 59min
4. Why doesn’t the US have a national price on carbon?
Jacob, Naomi, and Casey explore the obstacles a national carbon price has faced in the United States, and the argument for a different approach to climate action. They talk with Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Nat Keohane (Senior Vice President for Climate at EDF), Saya Ameli Hajebi (Sunrise Movement activist), Carlos Curbelo (Former Congressman R-FL 26), David Roberts (Author of Volts newsletter on clean energy and politics), and Susanne Brooks (Senior Director of U.S. Climate Policy at EDF).
Read more at pricingnature.substack.com.

Mar 8, 2021 • 60min
3. The Road to Paris: 30 Years of Climate Negotiations in Under an Hour
In Episode 3 of Pricing Nature, Jacob, Maria, and Casey chat with Sue Biniaz (Senior Fellow for Climate Change at the UN Foundation, and Visiting Lecturer at Yale), Dan Esty (Hillhouse Professor of Environmental Law and Policy at Yale), and David Roberts (Author of “Volts,” a newsletter on clean energy and politics, and formerly a journalist with Vox). Today’s episode tells the story of global climate negotiations, and how these important agreements have evolved over the last 30 years. Read more at pricingnature.substack.com.

Feb 22, 2021 • 49min
2. What’s the Right Price for Carbon Emissions?
In this engaging discussion, Nobel laureate William Nordhaus, a Yale economics professor, delves into the complexities of pricing carbon emissions. He explains the social cost of carbon and its relevance for public policy and future generations. The challenges of predicting climate change damages are explored, highlighting the ethical dilemmas in discount rates. Nordhaus also contrasts market-driven behaviors with moral imperatives in carbon pricing, providing insight into the ongoing debate over achieving a balance between immediate economic gains and long-term environmental sustainability.

6 snips
Feb 8, 2021 • 28min
1. Intro to Carbon Pricing
Discover the essentials of carbon pricing and its pivotal role in combating climate change. The discussion spans the lack of accountability for pollution and the urgent need for financial solutions to climate challenges. Hear about the complexities of implementing carbon pricing and the balance between market fairness and social justice. The podcast also sheds light on comparing carbon tax and cap-and-trade systems while emphasizing protection for vulnerable communities. Get insights on the IPCC's findings and the urgency of reducing emissions.

Jan 29, 2021 • 4min
0. Welcome to Pricing Nature
Dive into the urgent world of carbon pricing as a key solution to combat climate change. Discover the pivotal role these policies play in national climate strategies, especially after the U.S. rejoined the Paris Climate Agreement. Hear from a diverse range of experts—from politicians to activists—who stress the importance of public engagement and education in climate discussions. This exploration reveals the complex interplay of economics and environmental responsibility.