A Comparative Analysis of Taxes and CO2 Emissions from Passenger Cars in the Nordic Countries

by Henrik Duer
A Comparative Analysis of Taxes and CO2 Emissions from Passenger Cars in the Nordic Countries
Author: Henrik Duer
Publisher: Nordic Council of Ministers
Total Pages: 95
Release: 2011-05-31
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9289322160
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The report discusses how economic instruments can be used to reduce CO2 emissions from passenger cars in the Nordic countries. The analysis indicate that: the registration tax and the annual circulation tax can contribute to a reduction in the average CO2 emission from new cars; company car schemes in the Nordic countries provide incentives for larger cars and increased driving because of subsidies, and this has long term effect as a large share of new cars are registered as company cars but are used as private cars most of their lives; CO2 differentiated taxes can provide incentives to consumers to purchase CO2 efficient cars; targeted broader packages which besides providing tax incentives also offer advantages to more environmentally friendly cars can be more effective than general tax increases; transparency of targets and instruments is crucial for a large diffusion of CO2 efficient cars.

Environmental policy analysis

by Næss-Schmidt, Helge Sigurd
Environmental policy analysis
Author: Næss-Schmidt, Helge Sigurd
Publisher: Nordic Council of Ministers
Total Pages: 114
Release: 2015-10-23
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 9289343907
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This report discusses how policymakers should deal with economic distortions on the cost-side of cost-benefit analysis in the area of environmental policies, and assesses the existing Nordic guideline recommendations. The two types of economic distortions are distortions to product markets, which are almost by definition tied to environmental policy interventions, and distortions to labour supply decisions. Drawing on best practices from the literature, we formulate a number of key principles useful for assessing the impact on labour supply decisions and welfare on product markets from policy interventions. Four analytical examples are included to illustrate the importance of these principles for the correct quantification of distortionary impacts, especially the importance of taking into account pre-existing policy induced distortions.

Mobility as a Service and Greener Transportation Systems in a Nordic context

by Anna Laine
Mobility as a Service and Greener Transportation Systems in a Nordic context
Author: Anna Laine
Publisher: Nordic Council of Ministers
Total Pages: 94
Release: 2018-12-04
Genre: Science
ISBN: 928935917X
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The transport sector is a major source of greenhouse gases and other pollutants. This study estimates the potential of digitalized mobility solutions, such as Mobility as a Service (MaaS), to reduce emissions and vehicle kilometers travelled in the Nordic countries. Also, to assess the potential future impact of MaaS, modelling is done to project road transport’s energy consumption, CO2 emissions and total costs in the Nordic countries up to 2050. There are still several barriers to the wider adoption of shared mobility services. We present ways to overcome these barriers with incentives and policy instruments to substitute car ownership, and specify what different actors can do to accelerate this change. Finally we present policy recommendations on how to reduce the dependence on car ownership, reduce the vehicle kilometers driven, and stimulate the demand for greener mobility services.

Environmental impacts and potential of the sharing economy

by John Magne Skjelvik
Environmental impacts and potential of the sharing economy
Author: John Magne Skjelvik
Publisher: Nordic Council of Ministers
Total Pages: 81
Release: 2017-10-19
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 9289351578
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The various sharing initiatives seen in the Nordic countries over the last years within transportation, housing/accommodation, sharing/renting of smaller capital goods and personal services could yield considerable benefits for consumers due to better quality and/or lower prices of the services. They also have a potential for emissions reductions of CO2 and local pollutants. However, savings from lower prices could lead to increased emissions from increased demand of the services (particularly transport) and increased spending on other goods and services. Depending on how consumers spend their savings, these changes could partly, wholly or more than offset the initial emission reductions. The impacts on overall CO2 emissions depend on whether the emissions are taxed, part of the emissions trading system EU ETS or not regulated at all.

Nordic Action on Climate Change

by Timothy Bird
Nordic Action on Climate Change
Author: Timothy Bird
Publisher: Nordic Council of Ministers
Total Pages: 32
Release: 2017-10-10
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9289351829
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This booklet presents actions taken by the Nordic countries to speed the transition to a sustainable low-carbon society. It shows how sustainable development is possible, with strong climate policies contributing to economic growth and job creation as well as environmental improvements. The Nordic countries successfully demonstrate how ambitious climate change mitigation targets and policies can be combined with high levels of human development.

Grid Integration of Electric Vehicles in Open Electricity Markets

by Qiuwei Wu
Grid Integration of Electric Vehicles in Open Electricity Markets
Author: Qiuwei Wu
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Total Pages: 299
Release: 2013-05-23
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 111856801X
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Presenting the policy drivers, benefits and challenges for grid integration of electric vehicles (EVs) in the open electricity market environment, this book provides a comprehensive overview of existing electricity markets and demonstrates how EVs are integrated into these different markets and power systems. Unlike other texts, this book analyses EV integration in parallel with electricity market design, showing the interaction between EVs and differing electricity markets. Future regulating power market and distribution system operator (DSO) market design is covered, with up-to-date case studies and examples to help readers carry out similar projects across the world. With in-depth analysis, this book describes: the impact of EV charging and discharging on transmission and distribution networks market-driven EV congestion management techniques, for example the day-ahead tariff based congestion management scenario within electric distribution networks optimal EV charging management with the fleet operator concept and smart charging management EV battery technology, modelling and tests the use of EVs for balancing power fluctuations from renewable energy sources, looking at power system operation support, including frequency reserve, power regulation and voltage support An accessible technical book for power engineers and grid/distributed systems operators, this also serves as a reference text for researchers in the area of EVs and power systems. It provides distribution companies with the knowledge they need when facing the challenges introduced by large scale EV deployment, and demonstrates how transmission system operators (TSOs) can develop the existing system service market in order to fully utilize the potential of EV flexibility. With thorough coverage of the technologies for EV integration, this volume is informative for research professors and graduate students in power systems; it will also appeal to EV manufacturers, regulators, EV market professionals, energy providers and traders, mobility providers, EV charging station companies, and policy makers.

Fuel Taxes and the Poor

by Thomas Sterner
Fuel Taxes and the Poor
Author: Thomas Sterner
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 412
Release: 2012-03-29
Genre: Law
ISBN: 1136521712
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Fuel Taxes and the Poor challenges the conventional wisdom that gasoline taxation, an important and much-debated instrument of climate policy, has a disproportionately detrimental effect on poor people. Increased fuel taxes carry the potential to mitigate carbon emissions, reduce congestion, and improve local urban environment. As such, higher gasoline taxes could prove to be a fundamental part of any climate action plan. However, they have been resisted by powerful lobbies that have persuaded people that increased fuel taxation would be regressive. Reporting on examples of over two dozen countries, this book sets out to empirically investigate this claim. The authors conclude that while there may be some slight regressivity in some high-income countries, as a general rule, fuel taxation is a progressive policy particularly in low income countries. Rich countries can correct for regressivity by cutting back on other taxes that adversely affect poor people, or by spending more money on services for the poor. Meanwhile, in low-income countries, poor people spend a very small share of their money on fuel for transport. Some costs from fuel taxes may be passed on to poor people through more expensive public transportation and food transport. Nevertheless, in general the authors find that gasoline taxes become more progressive as the income of the country in question decreases. This book provides strong arguments for the proponents of environmental taxation. It has immediate policy implications at the intersection of multiple subject areas, including transportation, environmental regulation, development studies, and climate change. Published with Environment for Development initiative.

Carbon Pricing in Japan

by Toshi H. Arimura
Carbon Pricing in Japan
Author: Toshi H. Arimura
Publisher: Springer Nature
Total Pages: 271
Release: 2020-09-17
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 9811569649
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This open access book evaluates, from an economic perspective, various measures introduced in Japan to prevent climate change. Although various countries have implemented such policies in response to the pressing issue of climate change, the effectiveness of those programs has not been sufficiently compared. In particular, policy evaluations in the Asian region are far behind those in North America and Europe due to data limitations and political reasons. The first part of the book summarizes measures in different sectors in Japan to prevent climate change, such as emissions trading and carbon tax, and assesses their impact. The second part shows how those policies have changed the behavior of firms and households. In addition, it presents macro-economic simulations that consider the potential of renewable energy. Lastly, based on these comprehensive assessments, it compares the effectiveness of measures to prevent climate change in Japan and Western countries. Providing valuable insights, this book will appeal to both academic researchers and policymakers seeking cost-effective measures against climate change.