Question

Suppose there will be global catastrophe unless we hold total carbon dioxide emissions at or below 35 million tons per year. As a result, 35 million tons of emissions permits are auctioned off and the proceeds distributed equally between everybody on Earth. Is this better, worse, or basically the same as allocating to each of the 7 billion people on Earth 10 pounds of untradeable emissions permits per year?
a. better, because it lowers the cost of emissions abatement
b. worse, because it raises the cost of emissions abatement
c. about the same
d. It is impossible to say.

Answer 1

If 35 million tons of emissions permits are auctioned off, compared to each person getting 10 pounds of untradable emissions, it is a. better, because it lowers the cost of emissions abatement.

Why is it better?

If everyone got 10 pounds of untradable emission, the amount of emissions would be:

= (10 x 7 billion) / 2,000 pound per ton

= 35 million pounds

This is the same as the total amount of the emission permits but it is still more expensive than issuing permits because those permits are tradable.

Non-tradable permits will mean that some will exceed their permit and will be unable to share their emissions.

Find out more on emission permits at brainly.com/question/5130019.