Why don't we tax companies that release CO2 and use the money to pay for things that reduce CO2?

Question

If climate change is caused by things like CO2 and methane, then why don't we apply a small tax to the causes and apply that money to the solution? If someone like James E. Hansen - the top NASA climate scientist - is saying we have only 10 years to stabilize emissions, wouldn't a carbon tax be a sensible thing to do? Or should we just sit like frogs in the frying pan?

Answer 1

Some companies may willingly pay if they still make lots of money. It would be better to get them to change how they operate. But I agree that something must be done.

Answer 2

It won't help. Analyze the CO2 issue.
1. CO2 is heavier than air. An 'Inconvenient Truth'
2. CO2 burned on the surface of the earth goes down!!!!!!
3. Plants take up CO2 on contact in the day time when they are
growing.
4. Burning fuels above 30,000 ft is the most logical cause of
CO2 in the upper atmosphere.
5. Jet engines burn 2-5 tons of fuel per hr.
6. Kerosene when burned produces CO2 at 3.66 x's the weight
of the fuel burned.

Answer 3

I like that idea. It's called economic incentive, and people do it around the world. I know some compaines will reimburse employees a small fraction if they purchase a hybrid. My town is working on something similar with recycling; we're looking into making people pay for trash disposal by the pound (kg), thus making recycling an appealing option. We are also considering fining people for openly not recycling.