Abstract

When it comes to encouraging pro-environmental behaviour, the most popular tool in the policy toolbox is fiscal incentives and disincentives – taxes, charges and rewards. One example of this is the London Congestion Charge, designed to encourage people out of their cars and into other forms of transport. In this talk Professor Andrew Dobson will discuss some of the evidence for the effectiveness of this policy tool before examining its potential disadvantages. Then he’ll sketch an alternative – environmental citizenship – and discuss some the empirical evidence for it.

If fiscal incentives don’t work, where does this leave the Cambridge Congestion Charge plans? Do fiscal incentives face the same problems on the international stage? Come along to discuss this and other issues over a pub dinner!

Andrew Dobson is an advisor to the Government’s Sustainable Development Commission and Professor of Politics at Keele University.