The main aim of this article is to discusses theoretical issues regarding the use of carbon taxes in climate policy. The issues include inter alia: the definition of carbon and CO2 taxes, the objectives of these instruments and the tax design (the point at which the tax is levied, tax rates, tax...

We incorporate three important aspects of current climate policy, unilateralism, demand side approach and a climate target, in a multi-country model with flow dependent fossil fuel extraction costs and a backstop. It turns out that the optimal climate coalition should encompass all countries...