CIOT and IFS Online Debate: What is the role of tax in getting to net zero?

The UK is committed to reducing net greenhouse gas emissions that arise from UK-based activities to zero by 2050. The EU and other countries have set similar targets, and more will be encouraged to do so at COP26 in Glasgow in a few weeks time. Achieving these targets will require large shifts away from emissions-intensive activity from both consumers and producers.

    - How far can tax and other carbon pricing mechanisms drive this behavioural change?
    - Which works better – taxing carbon emissions, or ‘cap and trade’ schemes?
    - Is the UK’s current mix of green policies effective, or should we aspire to a unified carbon tax?
    - How can we ensure the impact of green taxes is fair?
    - And to avoid importing emissions, do we need a carbon border adjustment mechanism?

These are some of the questions our expert panel considers as we debate the role of tax in tackling climate change.

OUR PANEL

Alex Bowen - Special Adviser to the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at the London School of Economics, and formerly senior economic adviser to the 2006 Stern Review of the Economics of Climate Change
Femke Groothuis - Co-Founder and President of the Ex’tax Project
Peter Levell - Associate Director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, and co-author of ‘Tax policies to help achieve net zero carbon emissions’, published earlier this month
Chris Morgan – Head of Global Responsible Tax Programme at KPMG International
Chair: Paul Johnson – Director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, and a member of the UK Government’s Climate Change Committee

If you were unable to make it on the day or would like to watch it again – you can view the recording of this debate by clicking on the VIEW RECORING button below.

To view the slides - CLICK HERE!

Our panellist Femke Groothuis (Co-Founder and President of the Ex’tax Project) mentioned that Ex’tax Foundation and partners are researching the impact of tax on circular business models and invited people to take part in this research. 

If you would like to participate, please CLICK HERE!

^{Any questions?
Please contact us by sending an email to [email protected]}

In case you missed them…

Our CIOT/IFS party conference debates on wealth taxes are now both available to view online: 

• Labour Conference debate with Dame Angela Eagle MP (House of Commons Treasury Committee), Arun Advani (Wealth Tax Commission) and Helen Miller (IFS) – WATCH HERE
• Conservative Party Conference debate with Felicity Buchan MP (House of Commons Treasury Committee), Emma Chamberlain (Wealth Tax Commission) and Stuart Adam (IFS) – WATCH HERE