--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We need to put a price on carbon, and…" description: "\"We need to put a price on carbon, and that's what cap-and-trade does and that's also what a CO2 tax does. As long as our current valuation in the marke..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72e/al-gore-609_action_we-need-to-put-a-price-on-carbon-and-tha_583227.jpg" --- # We need to put a price on carbon, and that's what… ![“We need to put a price on carbon, and that's what cap-and-trade does and that's also what a CO2 tax does. As long as our current valuation in the marketplace tells us every minute of every day that it's perfectly all right to dump 90 million tons of global warming into the thin atmosphere…” quote by Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72e/al-gore-609_action_we-need-to-put-a-price-on-carbon-and-tha_583227.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72e/al-gore-609_action_we-need-to-put-a-price-on-carbon-and-tha_583227.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72e/al-gore-609_action_we-need-to-put-a-price-on-carbon-and-tha_583227.jpg) > “We need to put a price on carbon, and that's what cap-and-trade does and that's also what a CO2 tax does. As long as our current valuation in the marketplace tells us every minute of every day that it's perfectly all right to dump 90 million tons of global warming into the thin atmosphere surrounding the planet every 24 hours as if that atmosphere is an open sewer, then the individual actions are not going to solve the problem.” [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Carbon pricing is essential; market signals must reflect true environmental costs to drive systemic change. **In simple terms:** Price carbon to fix the market. Key Takeaway Implement carbon taxes or cap‑and‑trade. Themes environment economics policy climate change Mood urgent determined informative Type policy advocacy environmental When to use this quote - government regulation - business investment - consumer behavior - energy planning Key Concepts externalities market failure public good Questions to Reflect On - How can we align profit motives with planetary health? - What incentives effectively reduce emissions? A Different Perspective Political resistance can stall reforms. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Climate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate/) [Co2](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/co2/) [Every Minute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-minute/) [Global warming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/global-warming/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Marketplace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marketplace/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Taxes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taxes/) [Trade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trade/) [Valuation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/valuation/) [Warming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/warming/) ## Related quotes > [If you have a carbon cap and trade system, there'd be an agreed-to limit the amount of carbon we emit. That changes the economic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vinod-khosla/if-you-have-a-carbon-cap-and-trade-system-there-d-be-an-agreed-to/) [Vinod Khosla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vinod-khosla/) > [We need to put a price on carbon. This needs to be a priority for all of us in how we vote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/we-need-to-put-a-price-on-carbon-this-needs-to-be-a-priority-for-all/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [The struggle against poverty in the world and the challenge of cutting wealthy country emissions all has a single, very simple solution... Here it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/the-struggle-against-poverty-in-the-world-and-the-challenge-of/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [Just like you could dump oil into the Cuyahoga in the 60s and let someone else foot the bill, today you can pump CO2…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramez-naam/just-like-you-could-dump-oil-into-the-cuyahoga-in-the-60s-and-let/) [Ramez Naam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramez-naam/) > [The physical relationship between CO2 molecules and the atmosphere and the trapping of heat is as well-established as gravity, for God's sakes. It's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/the-physical-relationship-between-co2-molecules-and-the-atmosphere/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [We face the gravest threat that civilization has ever confronted. It's global in nature and requires a global solution. Increased CO2 emissions anywhere, whether…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/we-face-the-gravest-threat-that-civilization-has-ever-confronted-it-s/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [CO2 is the exhaling breath of our civilization, literally... Changing that pattern requires a scope, a scale, a speed of change that is beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/co2-is-the-exhaling-breath-of-our-civilization-literally-changing/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [There's such a wide variation in tax systems around the world, it's difficult to imagine a harmonized CO2 tax that every country agrees to.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/there-s-such-a-wide-variation-in-tax-systems-around-the-world-it-s/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [Local and state governments have outrun the federal government. 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Boone Pickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-boone-pickens/) > [hen the price of carbon reaches $100 a tonne, then it will become an economically viable business proposition to start taking COâ‚‚ out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-homer-dixon/hen-the-price-of-carbon-reaches-100-a-tonne-then-it-will-become-an/) [Thomas Homer-Dixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-homer-dixon/) > [I also think that if you want to put a price on carbon, why not just do it with a simple tax? Why not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-abbott/i-also-think-that-if-you-want-to-put-a-price-on-carbon-why-not-just/) [Tony Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-abbott/) ## More by Al Gore > [Local and state governments have outrun the federal government. The EPA has served notice that it will enact a rule requiring CO2 reductions by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/local-and-state-governments-have-outrun-the-federal-government-the/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [Mother Nature does not do bailouts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/mother-nature-does-not-do-bailouts/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [The climate crisis is not a political issue, it is a moral and spiritual challenge to all of humanity. It is also our greatest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/the-climate-crisis-is-not-a-political-issue-it-is-a-moral-and/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [I decided to pick the diet that I thought would maximize my chances of long-term survival.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/i-decided-to-pick-the-diet-that-i-thought-would-maximize-my-chances/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [You know there's an old african proverb that i made up: "If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/you-know-there-s-an-old-african-proverb-that-i-made-up-if-you-want-to/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [One tragic example of the loss of forests and then water is found in Ethiopia. The amount of its forested land has decreased from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/one-tragic-example-of-the-loss-of-forests-and-then-water-is-found-in/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [The ten hottest years in the atmospheric record, going back only 160 years, have been in the last eleven years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/the-ten-hottest-years-in-the-atmospheric-record-going-back-only-160/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [Hey, you know what, I've gotta go on that 'Letterman' show. That show is so lame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/hey-you-know-what-i-ve-gotta-go-on-that-letterman-show-that-show-is/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [When you talk about President Trump, the cable networks turned over so many hours of prime time to him. Why? Because he was entertaining,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/when-you-talk-about-president-trump-the-cable-networks-turned-over-so/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [Iraq does pose a serious threat to the stability of the Persian Gulf and we should organize an international coalition to eliminate his access…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/iraq-does-pose-a-serious-threat-to-the-stability-of-the-persian-gulf/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [There are skeptics who do not come to their view because they have a source of income from carbon polluters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/there-are-skeptics-who-do-not-come-to-their-view-because-they-have-a/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [Our civilization is experiencing unprecedented changes across many realms, largely due to the rapid advancement of information technology. The ability to code and understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/our-civilization-is-experiencing-unprecedented-changes-across-many/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [There are many who would much prefer that the word 'climate' never be mentioned and that the issue be eliminated from our national conversation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/there-are-many-who-would-much-prefer-that-the-word-climate-never-be/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [As many know, the Chinese expression for "crisis" consists of two characters side by side. The first is the symbol for "danger," the second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/as-many-know-the-chinese-expression-for-crisis-consists-of-two/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [I think George W. Bush has a warm, engaging personality. But, you know, the presidency is more than just a popularity contest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/i-think-george-w-bush-has-a-warm-engaging-personality-but-you-know/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) [Explore all 447 Al Gore quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. 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