14 THE CAAR COMMUNICATOR knowledge as to why they are receiving it. We still haven’t examined just what exactly a carbon tax is, however. The cost of a carbon tax is a number our government (in this case) has derived from the social cost of carbon gas emission into the atmosphere. This social cost is the amount of money that was calculated as the externalities of carbon pollution. Externalities—what’s that? Using the example of air pollution caused by an ICE (internal combustion engine) farm vehicle, externalities are the cost of air pollution to society that is not paid by either the producer or user of the vehicle—a moral cost in GHG emissions that hits the rest of society. In this example, the fuel used by the ICE engine in a tractor causes GHG gases. The fuel on its own does not cause GHG emissions. The tractor on its own does not produce GHG emissions. But, when used to plant, grow, protect, and harvest food in a field, the tractor uses fuel that causes GHG emissions that contribute to the combined global issue of “bad air.” What bad air? Yes, aside from those unlucky enough to be close to the plethora of forest fires afflicting Canada or those brave enough to be fighting the fires, the air up here seems pretty good. Doesn’t it? Well, according to the Government of Canada, our total GHG emissions in 2020—the last year we have of calculated data—were 672 megatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e). Globally, Canada’s share of GHG emissions is less than 1.5 percent. 1.5 percent doesn’t seem so bad, right? True; however, Canada’s population is equivalent to 0.48 percent of the total world population. It means we are producing more than three times our share, per global capita, of GHG emissions. But how are GHG emissions calculated? I don’t know. Political pundits suggest that no one knows, but in truth, someone or some department had an inkling and provided a calculated “guess” of how much GHG emissions Canada produces. Unless every chimney or exhaust pipe has some sort of GHG emission calculator on it, there is no way to get an exact count of the emissions. As such, what we have from the Government of Canada is what one calls a “best guess.” However, the writer’s best guess is that it is based on specific calculations. In other words, the numbers weren’t simply made up, no matter how much you want to believe that because it’s the government. But you said you would teach us! Okay, per the Government of Canada, GHG emissions are reported in carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2 eq), which is determined by multiplying the amount of emissions of a particular gas by its global warming potential. The indicator uses the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s 1995 100-year global warming potentials. This writer stands corrected. Maybe he’s not smart enough. What are our GHG emissions? CARBON TAX The end result of the carbon tax in Canada and a host of other countries around the globe is to create a healthier planet with industries reducing their GHG emissions. witsarut sakorn/iStock/Getty Images Plus photo
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