Carbon Reduction in Washington State

Executive Summary

A carbon tax is a tax on fossil fuels intended to reduce the emission of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is one of the main factors contributing to the global warming epidemic our earth currently faces. A carbon tax is intended to help combat the warming effect by forcing polluters to take financial responsibility for the carbon dioxide they emit, with the ultimate goal of lowering emissions over time. It is not a new idea and many areas all over the world have already implemented their own form of carbon tax. Governor Inslee wants Washington to become apart of this trend and impose a carbon tax on the state that will cost the biggest polluters to be held financially responsible for their carbon emissions. This paper will summarize in full detail the carbon reduction plans governor Inslee has proposed, the fate and feasibility of these proposals, and the progress of the carbon tax in British Columbia.

Read more about carbon reduction here.

This is a photo of the capitol building in downtown Olympia. This photo represents the political process it takes to institute a carbon tax.

This is a photo of a dead tree surrounded by living trees on Rock Candy Mountain in Olympia, Washington. The dead tree represents a grim future and the living trees represent a fruitful past.

This photo was taken at the Olympic National Forest in early February. The National Park will be one of many forests that will suffer due to increasing emissions.

This photo was taken at the Olympic National Forest in early February. This photo represents the beautiful nature that may suffer do to the warming climate.

This photo was taken near the high steel bridge in Olympia. This photo represents the beautiful nature that will suffer due to climate change.

These are areas that will be severely affected by climate change.