Carbon TaxAmong the many highly speculated taxes a country must choose from, the carbon tax gains some approval. According to the Carbon Tax Center; Australia, parts of Canada, Ireland and other countries have already imposed a carbon tax. Tax rates range from five to thirty dollars per ton of carbon dioxide released into the air by businesses. But this information may leave you with your own questions. For example: if this tax were implemented where you live, how would it affect you, or you may be wondering what carbon is. Or maybe you're wondering what effect this might have on the carbon emissions already emitted in your area? First, let's learn where carbon dioxide comes from and what it's made of. Carbon dioxide comes from the use of fossil fuels. We use fossil fuels every day to power vehicles, buildings, and even some power tools. What do all these have in common, other than burning fossil fuels? A form of combustion engine. When fossil fuel passes through a combustion engine, carbon atoms bond with oxygen (one carbon atom bonded to two oxygen atoms) already present in the air and produce carbon dioxide called CO2 (Overview greenhouse gases). So the question remains: what is carbon dioxide? Carbon dioxide is described by the Environmental Protection Agency as “the leading greenhouse gas emitted by human activities” (Overview of Greenhouses Gases). This particular greenhouse gas is a “colorless, odorless, non-toxic gas” (carbon dioxide emissions) that remains resident in the Earth's atmosphere. This is bad, because as the sun radiates heat (solar heat) to the Earth and CO2 traps this heat in the Earth; causing global warming.Now the...... middle of paper ...... be given and to whom, if at all; and do the advantages of a CO2 tax outweigh the disadvantages (emission of more CO2 into the atmosphere). Although some countries have implemented a CO2 tax and achieved excellent results. Would this be a viable way for the United States to wean itself off fossil fuels and enter a new technological era? Only time will tell. After all, there are better ways to power your vehicles and power your buildings. .asp?ID=6323Glossary of statistical terms, carbon dioxide emissionshttp://www.carbontax.org/progress/where-carbon-is-taxed/Carbon Tax Centerhttp://www.reuters.com/article/2013/ 05/23/usa-carbon-tax-idUSL2N0E323B20130523Reuters, US carbon tax could raise revenues and curb climate change – report