Projected CO₂ Cost Impacts Rise

The monetized cost to the U.S. of carbon dioxide emissions is on a steady rise, according to a review by a working group of 11 federal agencies. The assessment projects that in 2020, the cost per metric ton of CO₂ will range from $12 to $129 depending on a variety of scenarios. An earlier assessment done in 2010 projected the costs in 2020 to be between $7 and $81 per metric ton of CO₂. Required by federal executive order, the assessment serves as a guide to regulatory agencies in determining the costs and benefits of reducing CO₂ emissions. The cost estimate of CO₂ emissions considers the relative cost impacts of increased emissions on human health and agricultural productivity as well as flood damage and ecosystem loss.