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Simulating the Impact of Carbon Taxes on Greenhouse Gas Emission and Nutrition in the UK

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  • Cesar Revoredo-Giha

    (Land Economy Environment and Society, SRUC, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JG, UK)

  • Neil Chalmers

    (Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB24 2ZD, UK)

  • Faical Akaichi

    (Land Economy Environment and Society, SRUC, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JG, UK)

Abstract

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with food consumption have become particularly pertinent issues given recent warnings that the planet recently has experienced its hottest year. One way proposed to reduce those emissions is through a carbon consumption taxes. This study uses consumption, nutrient and GHG emission data to estimate the impact of two ad-valorem taxes: one applied by food category and another by the carbon emission of the products. The results suggest that the carbon consumption tax scenarios would reduce GHG emissions by a greater quantity relative to the ad-valorem tax scenario; however, the intake of important nutrients will also decrease in these scenarios. Therefore, creating an environmentally sustainable and nutritious diet through taxation is challenging and requires compromise between the nutrition and environmental sustainability.

Suggested Citation

  • Cesar Revoredo-Giha & Neil Chalmers & Faical Akaichi, 2018. "Simulating the Impact of Carbon Taxes on Greenhouse Gas Emission and Nutrition in the UK," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(1), pages 1-19, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:1:p:134-:d:125926
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    Cited by:

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    2. Soler, Louis-Georges & Thomas, Alban, 2020. "Is there a win–win scenario with increased beef quality and reduced consumption?," Review of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Studies, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), vol. 101(1), July.
    3. Caillavet, France & Fadhuile, Adélaïde & Nichèle, Véronique, 2019. "Assessing the distributional effects of carbon taxes on food: Inequalities and nutritional insights in France," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 163(C), pages 20-31.
    4. Chalmers, Neil & Revoredo-Giha, Cesar, 2018. "Incorporating preferences into a healthy and sustainable diet," 92nd Annual Conference, April 16-18, 2018, Warwick University, Coventry, UK 273490, Agricultural Economics Society.
    5. Tiboldo, Giulia & Boehm, Rebecca & Shah, Farhed & Moro, Daniele & Castellari, Elena, 2022. "Taxing the heat out of the U.S. food system," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 110(C).
    6. Neil Chalmers & Stacia Stetkiewicz & Padhmanand Sudhakar & Hibbah Osei-Kwasi & Christian J Reynolds, 2019. "Impacts of Reducing UK Beef Consumption Using a Revised Sustainable Diets Framework," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(23), pages 1-20, December.
    7. Christine Cleghorn & Ingrid Mulder & Alex Macmillan & Anja Mizdrak & Jonathan Drew & Nhung Nghiem & Tony Blakely & Cliona Ni Mhurchu, 2022. "Can a Greenhouse Gas Emissions Tax on Food also Be Healthy and Equitable? A Systemised Review and Modelling Study from Aotearoa New Zealand," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(8), pages 1-15, April.
    8. Caillavet, France & Fadhuile, Adelaide & Nichèle, Véronique, 2018. "How does carbon pricing matter for a climate-friendly food consumption?," 2018 Annual Meeting, August 5-7, Washington, D.C. 273860, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    9. Caillavet, F. & Fadhuile, A. & Nichèle, V., 2018. "Assessing the distributional effects of carbon taxes on food: inequalities and nutritional insights," Working Papers 2018-12, Grenoble Applied Economics Laboratory (GAEL).

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