carbon tax, definition of

A Carbon Tax is a government imposed taxation on source goods and services in an attempt to reduce the production of carbon into the atmosphere.

Usually implemented as a form of 'at source' taxation; i.e. those whom manufacturer or consume the most carbon pay and everybody else on the supply chain picks up the price increase. This is often encountered with a carbon credit scheme, by which carbon producers can 'offset' their taxable carbon emissions against less carbon intense production methods.

As always with such schemes, the devil is in the detail; in particular there has been problems in the past with carbon fraud.

Note: This equally applies to the energy production sector as basic manufacturing; say if coal is being used as a source of electrical power.

• The Australian Carbon tax is no more
  Yesterday in the Senate the Carbon Tax was removed. This was a great victory for common sense as concerns realistic environmental policy.
• Why Carbon Tax?
  Why do we want a Carbon Tax in Australia, this is a good question we will attempt to answer...
• Julia Gillard's Carbon Tax protest at Canberra
  Tomorrow in Canberra the Election Now No Carbon Tax Rally will do its thing...
• Carbon Tax Pros and Cons
  We look at the Pros and Cons of the Carbon Tax...
• The incredible shrinking carbon tax...
  Carbon tax is to be paid by even less industry, whilst in the US the Chicago Climate Exchange is finally put out of our misery..
• Carbon Tax Convoy of No Confidence on its way to Canberra
  Want to be part of something Historic? Don't want to see Australia have a Carbon Tax? Read on...
• Carbon Tax environmental train wreck
  The carbon tax in Australia is going to do zip to improve the environment.
• The Dead Carbon Tax Sketch
  Based on the classic Dead Parrot Sketch, enjoy!
• Carbon Tax does not work
  Carbon Tax has been shown in the US to be totally ineffective; we compare against the situation with Carbon Tax in Australia.