On behalf of three Colorado-based environmental organizations, Abt Associates is evaluating various policy options to establish a price on carbon – or greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions– in Colorado.

This work includes:

• Conducting an inventory of key characteristics defining existing climate change and GHG policies in North America, including carbon taxes, cap-and-trade systems, performance standards, direct incentives, and hybrid policies; and
• Identifying best options for establishing a carbon price in Colorado based on results of policy inventory and expert judgement.

We are weighing key criteria – such as economic efficiency, political viability, fiscal and distributional impacts, and Colorado’s unique legislative requirements limiting levying new taxes – associated with various policy options to develop the final policy recommendations.