Do you know that you already pay a carbon tax? Yes, you do! It is embedded in every litre of fuel and every unit of electricity bought from Eskom. The Carbon Tax was implemented in 2019, and the tax base (what will be taxed) on the tax rate will be expanding – quickly.
Is time on our side? We are seeing more and more extreme weather events and most scientists will agree that pure greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation action did not result in the desired reductions and that we have to brace ourselves for adaptation measures. The intention of the domestic carbon tax is in line with international thinking of the polluter pays principle, quoting: ‘Those responsible for harming the environment must pay the costs of remedying pollution and environmental degradation and supporting any consequent adaptive response that may be required.’
UNDERSTANDING GREENHOUSE GAS SCOPES
In its simplest form GHG pollution can be divided into three scopes:
- Scope 1 is GHG emissions that one emits directly to the atmosphere. This could typically include diesel combustion in generators that one owns and controls.
- Scope 2 emissions are frequently electricity sourced from Eskom or other forms of ‘bought in energy.’
- Scope 3 emissions, for a lack of a better definition, could be everything else, like paper consumption and business travel.
One entity’s Scope 1 emissions could be the Scope 2 emissions of another entity. So Eskom combusts coal, which is a Scope 1 emission and we buy the electricity, which is then our Scope 2 emissions. The resulting pollution is the responsibility of the polluter as per the polluter pays principle, but we use the electricity, which implies we are also responsible. In the words of Lionel Ritchie: ‘Say you, say me, say it together. Naturally.’
HOW THE TAX IS APPLIED
The tax is developed in such a way that only Scope 1 (direct) emissions will be liable for tax. Furthermore there are some exclusions and tax free allocations. In brief, most organisations that will be tax liable will have Scope 1 emission exemptions of 60% to 90%, depending on the type of industry and international trade exposure. (As noted above, this tax base will decrease in future to tax more industries more severely.) The exemptions are given as to provide industry with a lead time to change GHG pollution rates and not to adversely impact any industry too quickly.
Let me explain one possible application of the tax using the example of buying a box of standard printing paper. Buying a box of paper will fall under Scope 3 emissions, but the emissions of the manufacturing process will be the Scope 1 emissions of the manufacturer. The manufacturer typically needs to recover the additional tax from the sales price as few businesses will be able to absorb an additional tax without passing it on to their end customer.
A box of paper typically weighs 14.5 kg and the GHG pollution associated with the manufacturing process results in about 29 kgCO2e being emitted to the atmosphere. (In less abbreviated form this implies that 29 kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent gas was emitted to the atmosphere.) If we assume that half of the emissions will be Scope 1 emissions then the maximum tax liability will be on 14.5 kg. Let us further assume that the manufacturing process gets the minimum tax deduction of 60% then a box of paper could be taxed on 5.8 kgCO2e and at an estimated tax rate of say R200/tCO2e this equates to R1.16. (Please note, this calculation is only for illustrative purposes and that the application of the tax is a little bit more complicated.)
That box of paper before the tax would cost about R440 so the tax, in this illustrative example, will not have a massive impact on cost. Obviously this will not be the case for all taxed events.
It is proposed that the carbon tax will be escalated as follows:
BE INFORMED AND PREPARED
So what will the implication of this tax be to you? The impact on people and companies will vary greatly as large fossil fuel users, energy-intensive industries and industries with large GHG emissions from industrial processes will bear the brunt of the tax. In many cases these industries can either start a lengthy process of altering their processes to reduce GHG emissions or apply the exemptions built into the tax to reduce this additional burden. Unfortunately some industries cannot simply change their processes or make simple adjustments to reduce GHG production. Two of these industries include cement producers and steel manufacturers.
For smaller polluters the diesel and liquid fuel price will have an embedded tax in the fuel price that is associated with this carbon tax.
Imagine telling someone in the mid-90s that one day as part of going to a grocer and buying food, you would need to pay for a plastic bag as well. Pay for a plastic bag!? Few people would have believed you. Now imagine a world in which every item in that grocery bag has some form of pollution tax associated with it. That world is here now.
About the author
Dr Marco Lotz holds a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering, a master’s degree in artificial intelligence, a PhD in engineering management, and an MBA. His PhD focused on greenhouse gas reduction projects’ project management and risk management. Marco started his career in 2006 and consulted for various industries, including steel and cement manufacturing and precious-metal mining and processing, where he was involved in numerous carbon reduction projects. The carbon projects covered the complete spectrum of carbon activities, including carbon footprinting, carbon disclosure projects, carbon-neutral endeavours and revenue-generating carbon reduction projects. These projects also included water- and energy-related matters. Marco’s work experience includes working at three start-up companies, being the Nedbank Sustainability Carbon specialist for 12 years, and more recently being the Chief Portfolio Officer for carbon mitigation assets at a Swiss-based foundation and the Chief Sustainability Officer at Carbon Disclosure SA. Marco is a former associate researcher at the University of Stellenbosch Business School and the Tropical Research Institute in Portugal. He is currently an associate of the Sustainability Institute. He contributes to various well-known carbon publications and is an external review expert for selected academic and other publications.
Marco will be presenting the Carbon Footprinting course, offered by the Sustainability Institute from 18 July – 5 August 2024 and 24 October – 11 November 2024. This course will enable participants to calculate a carbon footprint, assist to be tax compliant and reduce GHG pollution through active management.