EfD and MCC will jointly host a side event at COP28 in Dubai. The event, which features an impressive line-up of speakers, will focus on carbon pricing and how it affects different social groups. There will also be an official launch of a free online tool that will help policymakers foresee the consequences of carbon pricing policies to avoid socially unfair outcomes.
COP28 is the 28th annual United Nations (UN) climate meeting where governments and other stakeholders will discuss how to limit and prepare for climate change. The summit will be held in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), from 30 November until 12 December 2023.
Presents examples of implemented policies
Environment for Development (EfD) and the Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change (MCC) are hosting a side-event titled Facilitating socially just carbon pricing policies in emerging economies on Tuesday, December 5th at 16:45.
The event will present examples of carbon pricing policies and fossil fuel subsidy reforms that have been implemented or considered by low- and middle-income countries and discuss the latest research on policy design options focusing on their effects on different groups.
Strong line-up of speakers
“We have a very exciting line-up of speakers at the event, so we hope there will be many participants,” says Tessa Schiefer, Policy Analyst at MCC, who is coordinating the event.
The speakers at this event include Gunnar Köhlin, Director of EfD, Jan Steckel, Professor at MCC, Simon Black, Economist at International Monetary Fund (IMF) as well as representatives from the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ), and civil society organizations.
Implementation can be difficult
Gunnar Köhlin will, among others, highlight a collaborative program within EfD, the Emission Pricing for Development program, which unites researchers from across the world, addressing the problems related to the implementation of carbon pricing in the Global South.
“Removal of fuel subsidies and implementation of carbon taxation are relevant policies in all of the countries that EfD is active in. At the side event, I hope to be able to share insights from the recent removal of fuel subsidies in Nigeria, as well as modeling efforts in India and Nigeria to propose carbon pricing. However, implementation of such policies can be difficult, so I hope to also have time to highlight recent work EfD researchers do to understand the social acceptance for such reforms,” says Gunnar Köhlin.
New tool provides insights for carbon policies
The launch of the interactive web tool, the Carbon Pricing Incidence Calculator (CPIC), developed at MCC, is also expected to gain a lot of interest. This tool allows you to explore the consequences of carbon pricing and potential compensation mechanisms across households in different income categories. It is designed to be easily accessible and to provide insights for policy dialogue, design, and implementation. It can help to address socially unfair outcomes of the planned policies. The tool is built on data from more than 80 countries and promises to be very helpful and practical for policymakers and civil society.
By: Petra Hansson