In his address, Mr Curtin argued that while decades of research support the view that pricing carbon is the most economically efficient approach to reducing emissions, there has traditionally been less of a focus on ensuring that carbon prices are socially and politically acceptable. Mr Curtin drew on recent international experiences and cutting-edge research to explore how strategic revenue recycling could be used to build new constituencies in favour of a carbon tax. He assessed the economic, social, political and administrative advantages of four typical carbon tax designs, drawing conclusions for how a rapidly increasing carbon tax might be implemented in Ireland.
About the Speaker:
Joseph Curtin is Senior Fellow at the Institute of International and European Affairs, where he leads on climate policy. He balances this role with a research fellowship at University College Cork, focused on stranded assets, climate finance and mobilising investment in low-carbon technology from citizens, community groups and professional investors. He is a Member of the Government’s Climate Change Advisory Council, established in 2016 to provide independent advice on how Ireland can achieve the transition to a low carbon, climate resilient and environmentally sustainable economy.
