Want to cut emissions? Young advocate says tax the rich — and what they own |
These in-their-own-words pieces are told to Patricia Lane and co-edited with input from the interviewee for the purpose of brevity.
Tasnia Hussain wants us to tax the carbon pollution from Taylor Swift’s corporate holdings — not just the emissions from her jet fuel. This University of Toronto PhD student has done the math that shows we can cut carbon pollution faster by taxing the emissions produced by billionaires' investments rather than just the emissions from their consumption.
Tell us about your research
Many of us recognize that the wealthiest 1% are responsible for a disproportionate share of the emissions driving extreme weather, wildfires and floods. People are understandably frustrated when they see celebrities and billionaires flying private jets, driving luxury gas vehicles, cruising on yachts, and living in enormous homes — apparently without regard for the carbon pollution their lifestyles create. Many of us worry about climate change and try to do our part, but it can feel futile to recycle, eat less meat or bike to work when a single private-jet trip produces more emissions than most people generate in a year.
It is tempting, therefore, to focus on taxing luxury........