Executive summary: A quantitative model shows that a carbon tax on food would likely decrease both greenhouse gas emissions and animal suffering in the US, contrary to concerns that it might increase animal deaths by encouraging substitution of beef with chicken.
Key points:
While beef has high carbon emissions but fewer animal deaths per kg, and chicken has lower emissions but more deaths per kg, model shows direct price effects outweigh substitution effects
When calibrated for US markets, a $25/ton CO2 tax reduces both emissions (-7.7%) and animal deaths (-0.7%), mainly through decreased beef consumption
A slaughter tax becomes more efficient than a carbon tax if the social cost of an animal death is valued at >10% of the Social Cost of Carbon (~$18.50 per death)
Key uncertainty: Model assumes no supply chain adaptations that could increase intensive farming
Simple meat/fish tax could be easier to implement though less economically efficient than targeted carbon/slaughter taxes
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Executive summary: A quantitative model shows that a carbon tax on food would likely decrease both greenhouse gas emissions and animal suffering in the US, contrary to concerns that it might increase animal deaths by encouraging substitution of beef with chicken.
Key points:
While beef has high carbon emissions but fewer animal deaths per kg, and chicken has lower emissions but more deaths per kg, model shows direct price effects outweigh substitution effects
When calibrated for US markets, a $25/ton CO2 tax reduces both emissions (-7.7%) and animal deaths (-0.7%), mainly through decreased beef consumption
A slaughter tax becomes more efficient than a carbon tax if the social cost of an animal death is valued at >10% of the Social Cost of Carbon (~$18.50 per death)
Key uncertainty: Model assumes no supply chain adaptations that could increase intensive farming
Simple meat/fish tax could be easier to implement though less economically efficient than targeted carbon/slaughter taxes
This comment was auto-generated by the EA Forum Team. Feel free to point out issues with this summary by replying to the comment, and contact us if you have feedback.