Skip to Content
Streetsblog USA home
Streetsblog USA home
Log In
Al Gore

Bloomberg Declares Support for a National Carbon Tax

New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg will
declare his support today for a national carbon tax, according to a
report posted this morning on the New York Times City Room blog by
metro reporter Sewell Chan:

Mayor Bloomberg plansto announce today his support for a national carbon tax. In what hisaides are calling one of the most significant policy addresses of hissecond and final term, the mayor will argue that directly taxingemissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that contributeto climate change will slow globalwarming, promote economic growth and stimulate technological innovation— even if it results in higher gasoline prices in the short term.

Mr.Bloomberg is scheduled to present his carbon tax proposal in a speechthis afternoon at a two-day climate protection summit in Seattleorganized by the United States Conference of Mayors. (A copy of the speech was provided to The New York Times by aides to the mayor; the full text is available here, along with the complete Times story.)

Needless to say, Charles Komanoff at the recently spiffed-up Carbon Tax Center, thinks this is a big deal (worthy of an Oscar or a Nobel Peace Prize, perhaps?):

With his speech today, Mayor Bloomberg joins former Vice-President AlGore as the nation's leading advocates of a carbon tax to cap andreduce carbon emissions from fossil fuels.

And consistent with the Mayor's local transportation policy push:

Bloomberg's support of a U.S. carbon tax is philosophically consistentwith his big current local initiative, a congestion pricing plan toimprove mobility, economic activity and the quality of life in theManhattan Central Business District by charging an entry fee for motorvehicles. A carbon tax and congestion pricing both embody the principlethat safeguarding “the commons” -- our air, water and public space --requires that we exact from ourselves a commensurate price for usesthat damage or deplete it.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog USA

‘We’re Not Copenhagen’ Is No Excuse Not to Build a Great Biking And Walking City

A team of researchers identified eight under-the-radar cities leading the local active transportation revolution — and a menu of strategies that other communities can and should steal.

June 30, 2025

Monday’s Headlines, Ranked

New reports rank the best cities for biking and the best complete streets policies. Plus, the robotaxi wars have begun.

June 30, 2025

Washington State Is About To Have the First Pro-‘Woonerf’ Law in America

Washington state is making it legal for cities to have people-centered streets in a first-in-the-nation law.

June 30, 2025

Friday’s Headlines Are Doomed

Philadelphia transit is falling off the fiscal cliff, with other major cities not far behind. And the effects of service cuts on their economies could be brutal.

June 27, 2025

Talking Headways Podcast: Why We Need ‘Universal Basic Mobility’

In a very special podcast, we’re joined by the great Madeline Brozen of UCLA to talk about how guaranteed transit lowers people's stress.

June 26, 2025
See all posts