One way to get China to clean up faster: build a ‘carbon club’

Next year will mark a decade since diplomats gathered in Paris, promising to cut the greenhouse gas emissions relentlessly warming the atmosphere. The resulting national policies bent the emissions curve substantially —— more than 90 percent of the worldwide increase. India contributed another large chunk. Fortunately, there were emissions reductions elsewhere, mostly among richer nations with more developed clean energy technology.

If they harmonized their policies, instead, creating a carbon club in which they shared subsidies and other goodies, and set levies based on the carbon content in critical industries — taxing both imports and domestic products from high-emission producers — they would protect their local industry from dirtier competitors abroad. They would also provide high-emitting nations, such as China, with a powerful incentive to clean up their own production.

The idea of using tariffs as part of the decarbonization tool kit is catching on. Several Democrats have put forward bills that aim to replicate Europe’s CBAM. President Biden has floated the idea of a clean steel and aluminum club with the E.U. and Group of Seven countries, including tariffs on imports from high-emission sources. In 2022, the G-7 countries agreed to explore a carbon club — which could include such levies to encourage progress., starting with the United States and E.U.

Unfortunately the G-7 has made little discernible progress on its plan. And in the United States the idea risks foundering against Republican opposition tolimited to imports, such a discriminatory policy would likely run into legal trouble at the World Trade Organization, and invite retaliation. Still, addressing climate change requires more aggressive progress from the big emitters outside the club of the rich. And they are not moving fast enough. In 2023 ChinaIf China faced penalties, as well as incentives to clean up, this picture would change more quickly. No one wants to be banned from the clubhouse.GOP Senate candidate in Montana builds campaign on once-secret Navy exploits

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