The Alberta carbon levy should be implemented, but the project, "Carbon tax and rebates in Alberta" should be more specific and modified. Following this project, many ethical situations have been neglected. The average man income has been neglected by implementing the $10 tax per oil of barrel. The tax project has its goals and advantages of which these benefits don't apply to every person in Alberta. The government goal is to fight global warming effect. According to the scientific data, the average temperature has increased by about six degrees in the past ten years (Rahman, 2015). Fossil fuels are the main contributor of global warming among other contributing factors (In Grammelis, 2016). The climate change that has been encountered following global warming include increased temperatures, floods due to increased rainfall and increased snow melting (Casper, 2010). Also diseases of the respiratory system have been associated with high carbon emission in major cities.
The economic variation after implementing the tax has changed abruptly since the geographical characteristics can't allow survival without heat. Alberta climate is cold for one to survive without heating devices.The primary purpose of heating the houses and working places is to have heat. The need for heat is cutting across everybody in Alberta. Again due to the environmental pollution and its effects on weather, the government of Alberta has proposed a levy system for 2017 through 2018 ("Carbon levy and rebates", 2016). The tax system includes some unrealistic expectations. In 2017 the levies will $20 per ton of fuel consumed which will then rise to $30 per ton in 2018 ("Whats a Carbon Tax, and How Does it Reduce Emissions?", 2016). The scale is not standard because that doesn't mean the total income of every person will have increased.
Regarding the levy scale, it's so much unfair to the country's economy. Secondly, comparing the damages brought about by global warming and the challenges faced by the Albertans, this levy system is unethical. Carbon pollution is a global issue being experienced in many countries. With the continued development and industrialization, carbon emission increases every day ("Global Warming: 2016 Articles, Facts, Causes & Effects", 2016). The Alberta government, therefore, should look for another alternative to solve its carbon emission. The global emission data of carbon is an increasing trend. The most developed countries are the leading emitters. According to the global greenhouse gas emission, data China is the leading country in carbon emission followed by the United States ("Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions Data | Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions | US EPA", 2016). From this data, one can draw the facts that Alberta has a little percentage towards carbon emission. Since the consumption of fuels for heating due to low temperatures in the region is what makes Alberta a focus center in carbon emission, alternatives should be implemented. The government decision, therefore, following the global issue fact should be implemented.
Concerning the government policy on carbon levy, there are some unethical considerations like minimum wage to get a rebate. The overall rebate system will not work out well without a standard. Again the increase of levy in 2018 will kill the rebate system. The rebate system is a government mechanism of trying to standardize the levy system of which this is not to the required standards comparing the living standards of Albertans. Another unethical issue is the levy standards being applicable per fuel used. The consumption is not to standard when comparing the industries and other firms. Their emission capacity is not comparable to that of homes and small scale businesses. My position is to have a minimum emission level where levy should apply. Regarding the standardization domestic use of fuels for heating should not be taxed.
The recommendations for the levy system are to have better standards that will give an equal responsibility to every Albertan. The first recommendation is having an alternative source of energy. A solar system is an alternative for domestic use (In Zhang, & In Dincer, 2016). Higher consumption areas like industries will have to use electrical appliances. The cost of fuels is cheaper compared to electricity, but the effect of global warming has more damage. Flooding and increased global warming is a world focus which should be a world fight to mitigate the factors contributing to this. Another alternative is having a better standard of the levy system that will not affect the individual income (Gravelle, 2014). Following the living standards of Albertans fuel is the primary source of energy.
On the rebate system, according to the minimum wage of $ 47,000, this should be a strict and firm position to avoid the corrupt individuals ("Carbon levy and rebates", 2016). Annual tax returns should be a routine to every Albertan for this joint effort to reduce global warming. In Alberta, there are families that have self-initiative to reduce the carbon emission. This should be something to be rewarded and considered for the rebate system. Initial heating of the houses should be banned and installation of thermostats be recommended. The use of thermostat is effective in controlling the house internal temperatures. For most of the homes, thermostat strategy will have reduced the emission by a reasonable percentage.
The large scale industries should be the main focus on implementations of strategies to reduce carbon emission. On the levy system, the large-scale firms should have their standard levy which will not affect the economy. An increase in production cost will lead to an increase in the products cost. Destabilizing the economy is something serious that should be avoided (Poterba, & National Bureau of Economic Research, 2006). Another recommendation is to have employees with self-initiative to control carbon emission which will facilitate the implementation program. The Albertan government, therefore, should observe the country's economy by implementing the "carbon tax and rebates" policy that will fit all the Albertans and economic friendly.
References
Carbon levy and rebates. (2016). Alberta.ca. Retrieved 8 November 2016.Casper, J. K. (2010). Changing ecosystems: Effects of global warming. New York: Facts on File.
In Grammelis, P. (2016). Energy, transportation and global warming.In Zhang, X.-R., & In Dincer, I. (2016). Energy solutions to combat global warming. Cham:
Springer.Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions Data | Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions | US EPA.
(2016). Epa.gov. Retrieved 8 November 2016.Global Warming: 2016 Articles, Facts, Causes & Effects. (2016). Live Science. Retrieved
Gravelle, J. (2014). The economic effects of taxing capital income. Cambridge, Mass: The MIT
Press.Poterba, J. M., & National Bureau of Economic Research. (2006). Tax policy and the economy.
Cambridge, Mass: MIT Press.
Rahman, W. F. (2015). Impact of global warming. November 2016.
Whats a Carbon Tax, and How Does it Reduce Emissions?. (2016). National Geographic
Channel. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
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