Final answer:
A 2019 study indicates a need for a significant carbon tax of $75 per ton by 2030 to limit climate change. Implementing such a tax is difficult due to immediate costs for consumers and businesses, despite its potential long-term benefits for health and environmental sustainability.
Step-by-step explanation:
A 2019 study suggests the world needs a massive carbon tax to limit climate change, proposing a tax rate of $75 per ton by 2030. Historically, businesses have emitted CO₂ without direct cost, but introducing a carbon tax would impose a financial penalty for pollution, theoretically incentivizing reduced emissions. Governments often find it challenging to implement high carbon taxes due to resistance from those who would bear the costs, as these taxes would lead to increased prices for consumers and businesses alike.
Moreover, the short-term costs are immediate, while the benefits of reduced emissions are long-term, making it difficult for governments to enforce substantial carbon tax rates. Effective carbon taxes could lead to significant long-term benefits for human health and the global environment by encouraging investment in renewable energy and other sustainable practices.