This report draws on case studies that cover Japan, Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Israel and others. It covers a wide set of environmental issues and technologies, as well as the economic and policy contexts. The research methods range from econometric analysis to interviews with business owners and executives. The report also explores the use of environmentally related taxes in OECD countries and outlines considerations for policymakers when implementing these taxes.

Green growth policies can stimulate economic growth while preventing environmental degradation, biodiversity loss and unsustainable natural resource use. The results from this publication will contribute to the Green Growth Strategy being developed by the OECD as a practical policy package for governments to harness the potential of greener growth.


Table of Contents
Abbreviations.
Executive Summary
Chapter 1. Introduction
1.1. The double market failure: Innovation undersupply and pollution oversupply
1.2. Innovation and low-cost, efficient environmental outcomes
1.3. The intersection of taxation, innovation and the environment
References
Chapter 2. Current Use of Environmentally Related Taxation
2.1. Revenues from environmentally related taxation across countries
2.2. Taxes on specific pollutants
2.3. Exemptions and reductions in environmentally related taxation
2.4. Tradable permits
2.5. Conclusions
Chapter 3. Effectiveness of Environmentally Related Taxation on Innovation.
3.1. Measuring innovation
3.2. Identifying the benefits and drawbacks of innovation
3.3. Case studies of environmentally related taxation and the inducement to innovate
3.4. Environmentally related taxation and different types of innovation
3.5. Innovation degree: Incremental versus breakthrough technologies
3.6. Constraints to innovation in response to environmentally related taxation
3.7. The adoption and transfer of environmentally related innovation
3.8. Conclusions
Chapter 4. Tax Design Considerations and other Tax-based Instruments
4.1. Identifying the appropriate level of the tax
4.2. The extent of the tax base
4.3. Administering the tax
4.4. Tax-based policy instruments
4.5. The choice of tax instrument
4.6. Creating a policy package: Combinations of environmental
and innovation instruments
4.7. Conclusions
Chapter 5. A Guide to Environmentally Related Taxation for Policy Makers
5.1. Why taxes?
5.2. Making effective environmentally related taxation
5.3. Using the revenue generated
5.4. Overcoming challenges to implementing environmentally related taxes
5.5. Environmentally related taxes alone are not the answer
5.6. Conclusions
Case Studies
Annex A. Sweden’s Charge on NOx Emissions
Annex B. Water Pricing in Israel
Annex C. Cross-country Fuel Taxes and Vehicle Emission Standards
Annex D. Switzerland’s Tax on Volatile Organic Compounds
Annex E. R&D and Environmental Investments Tax Credits in Spain
Annex F. Korea’s Emission Trading System for NOx and SOx
Annex G. UK Firms’ Innovation Responses to Public Incentives: An Interview-based Approach
Annex H. The UK’s Climate Change Levy and Climate Change Agreements: An Econometric Approach
Annex I. Japan’s Tax on SOx Emissions