Introduction
When fossil fuels, gas, coal, or oil, carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is then reabsorbed by plants and trees. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (2014), however, carbon dioxide that has been contained under the earth’s surface for millions of years is being released so rapidly because we are burning fuels so quickly that plants and trees that are alive now cannot soak carbons up.
Because of the extra carbon dioxide in the atmosphere the overall temperature of the planet is increasing, producing a “global worming” effect. Therefore, the average global temperature is increasing everyday and changing the environment in unstable ways, from hurricanes and tornados to heat waves and droughts. To try and reduce the risk of increasing extreme weather, the burning of fossil fuel needs to be diminished. Note: All emission estimates from the Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2012.

Relevant Facts
Environment Commissioner Mr. Carlo Ripa Di Meana has tried to come up with a solution to the carbon emissions problem. He announced came up with a proposal for a European carbon tax. It seemed that the proposed tax would tax the carbon content of fossil fuels and non-renewable forms of energy. Burning fossil fuels such as oil, gas, and coal would carry a tax that would contain two factors, one associated with the energy content and the other with the carbon content.
Revenues from the tax would accrue to the treasury of the member states. These states would determine what would be done with the revenue. For instance, the receiving states could choose what other reduction in taxes.
Another aspect of the tax is that there are exceptions for energy-intensive industries and the electricity-generating sector is exempt from all taxes.
Root Problem & Problem Components The goal of the tax was to