Carbon Pricing, Climate Change, and Air Quality

The document argues that because fossil fuel combustion drives both climate change and air pollution, well-designed carbon pricing—such as taxes, emission trading systems, and the removal of subsidies—can reduce both greenhouse gases and local pollutants. It emphasizes that the short-term health benefits of improved air quality often outweigh the costs of climate policy, which can help build broader political support. The author advocates for a holistic policy approach across all sectors and governance levels, involving multidisciplinary research to avoid unintended consequences, such as chemical reactions caused by partial pollutant reduction.

• Carbon pricing mechanisms, including carbon taxes, emission trading systems, and the removal of fossil fuel subsidies, can simultaneously lower greenhouse gas emissions and local air pollutants by disincentivizing the use of fossil fuels.
• The immediate local benefits of improved air quality frequently exceed the costs associated with implementing climate policies, and highlighting these combined benefits can increase political acceptance and strengthen advocacy coalitions.
• To avoid unintended consequences, such as increased chemical reactions in polluted areas, policymakers must adopt a holistic approach that covers all emissions and sectors.

APA

Climate Strategies (2019). Carbon Pricing, Climate Change, and Air Quality. https://climatestrategies.org/publication/cplc-carbon-pricing-climate-change-and-air-quality/

Chicago

Climate Strategies. Carbon Pricing, Climate Change, and Air Quality. 2019. https://climatestrategies.org/publication/cplc-carbon-pricing-climate-change-and-air-quality/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Climate Strategies |title=Carbon Pricing, Climate Change, and Air Quality |date=14 December 2019 |url=https://climatestrategies.org/publication/cplc-carbon-pricing-climate-change-and-air-quality/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{climatestrategies2019carbon, author = {{Climate Strategies}}, title = {{Carbon Pricing, Climate Change, and Air Quality}}, institution = {Climate Strategies}, year = {2019}, month = dec, url = {https://climatestrategies.org/publication/cplc-carbon-pricing-climate-change-and-air-quality/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }