Final answer:
The statement regarding the implementation of a carbon tax to reduce emissions is a normative statement as it prescribes what should be done based on values and opinions. Carbon taxes serve as economic instruments to combat climate change by incentivizing reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement 'Government should implement a carbon tax because it would help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change' is an example of a normative statement. Normative statements are subjective and contain value judgments or prescriptions on how the world ought to be. They are based on opinions and beliefs instead of factual assertions. In contrast, a positive statement is objective and based on testable, factual information reflecting what is or is not the case, without personal feelings or value judgments.
Carbon taxes are economic policies designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by making it more expensive to emit carbon dioxide. The rationale behind such taxes is that by imposing a cost on pollution, firms and individuals will have a financial incentive to reduce their emissions. This comes with challenges, such as properly setting the tax levels and dealing with economic resistance, but when effectively implemented, carbon taxes can encourage shifts to cleaner energy sources and abatement strategies for firms with lower abatement costs.