What would it take for the world to adopt a global carbon tax, and could such a policy become a meaningful tool for responding to the climate crisis? In this episode, we speak with Professor Jamie Morgan from Leeds Beckett University and Professor Heikki Patomäki from the University of Helsinki, two scholars who have collaborated extensively on the idea of a global greenhouse gas tax.
Jamie Morgan is Professor of Economics at Leeds Beckett University, whose work spans political economy, the philosophy of economics, global governance, critical realism, and climate policy. Heikki Patomäki is Professor of World Politics and Global Political Economy at the University of Helsinki. His research covers a broad range of themes including economic theory, global political economy, futures studies, and global justice.
Together we explore the central questions behind implementing a global carbon tax. How should revenues be allocated, and which approaches might be both fair and politically realistic? Could existing policy models offer a foundation for global implementation? What kinds of wider social or economic benefits might follow beyond emissions reductions?
We also discuss strategies for building public and political support, and consider whether a global carbon tax could ever gain broad international acceptance. Looking forward, Jamie and Heikki reflect on how technological, political, and economic developments might reshape the future of global climate governance.
The conversation continues themes from our recent panel, Global Carbon Tax: Challenges, Opportunities and Future Visions, offering a deeper look at the possibilities and complexities of creating a coordinated global response to climate change.
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