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Hi Jeffrey,



A wonderful piece.



A comment on the carbon pricing structure...



We know that the actual carbon price is likely to be about $80./tonne.



But what we should consider is the amount of carbon price that it would take to actually induce the changes necessary to cause a switch to 50% renewable energy / 50% natural gas + existing nuclear.



That is an equation that everyone could live with, even as developing nations add their contribution to the world's CO2.



In fact, a global 50% renewables / 50% gas + existing nuclear energy mix, could actually work to lower our annual emissions, and is a target that we could achieve relatively quickly and with known technology.



A $20./bbl carbon price would accomplish that within 20 years. Perhaps 15.



We might not need the 80 lb sledgehammer in this case and at this point in time, when a 20 lb mallet might be enough to do the trick!



Not only that, but an organized and highly effective campaign is likely to arise against an $80./tonne carbon tax, while a $20./tonne carbon tax would be lightly opposed, and significantly, fossil fuel companies would find little public support to oppose a $2o./tonne carbon tax.



A $20./tonne carbon tax might raise the price at the gas pump by 3 cents per gallon (OK, the oil companies will want to make a profit on it, so let's say it would add a whole 6 cents per gallon) but either way, with such dramatic falls in the oil price, we can well afford to breathe clean air, now, but especially in our future and our children's future!



Best regards, JBS

http://johnbrianshannon.com/2014/12/02/how-to-make-lower-oil-prices-work-for-the-environment/



