Many have earlier pointed out how fossil fuel emissions and the handling of the phosphor cycle need to be regulated. For this the Swedish Sustainable Economy Foundation propose a flexible emissions taxes. But are more needed? A new report, cited in the INDEPENDENT calls for changes to how we handle nitrogen.
The report by 200 experts from 21 countries warns that in Europe, the costs of nitrogen pollution on air, soils, water, increased greenhouse gases and damage to wildlife was between 70 billion euro and 320 billion euro a year (£62 billion-£282 billion).
The diagram above shows the planetary boundaries that have already been overshot. Nitrogen is one of them. Thanks to the Stockholm Resilience Center for the diagram
The cost works out at between £130 and £650 a year for everyone in Europe.
We cannot continue with economic models that promote externalisation and result in each citizen footing the bill.
One model that has been proposed to address the economic challenge of externalities is the flexible emissions fee model from the Swedish Sustainable Economics Foundation. (TSSEF.SE) Read more about the foundation’s flexible emission fees mechanisms.
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