A carbon tax would slow warming more than any other measure

New York Times : Oxford energy policy professor Dieter Helm argues that although effective new energy technologies are being developed, what’s needed fundamentally “across Europe, the United States and China is a global agreement on a proper carbon price” that does not “discriminate between locations,” given the rise of coal planetwide. The US “is actually on a much better path than Europe,” thanks to a transition from coal to gas, investments in new technologies, and carbon emissions that are falling faster. But because present renewable-energy sources including wind and biofuels are inadequate, the planet will need new technologies while “slowing the coal juggernaut.” Sensible steps are to “tax carbon consumption (including imports); accelerate the switch from coal to gas; and support and finance” new solar, geothermal, nuclear, battery, and ocean-tidal technologies; smart grids; and electric cars.