Determining The Effective Price Of Carbon

Background to Canada's National Carbon Policy

The recent federal plan for a national Canadian carbon price – rising to $50/+ CO2e by 2022 – has increased interest in carbon pricing policies and has highlighted the need to go beyond an initial headline number to determine the effective price of carbon. In light of a forthcoming national price on carbon, business, individuals and government must understand the "all-in costs" associated with carbon pricing in order to make sound strategic decisions. Our federal government should be mindful of the different ways in which a carbon price may impact the different regions of Canada and how different carbon levels may impact consumer and business behavior in different regions of Canada.