# A Carbon Cap Would Promote International Participation

*Published:* 2008-11-07
*Author:* Gernot Wagner

[![Gernot Wagner's profile](https://blogs.edf.org/climate411/wp-content/blogs.dir/7/files/2008/09/gernot_wagner.jpg)](http://edf.org/page.cfm?tagID=22352 "Gernot Wagner's profile")[Nat Keohane](http://edf.org/page.cfm?tagID=12740) and I have been participating in the [“Carbon Tax vs. Cap-and-Trade” debate](http://thebulletin.org/web-edition/roundtables/carbon-tax-vs-cap-and-trade#rt4865) over on Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. From Round 3, which addresses the international aspects:

> A cap-and-trade system allows for the creation of a global carbon market. Such a market would provide the mechanisms and flexibility necessary to achieve the environmental goals at the lowest cost and the incentives for other countries to join. A tax does neither, while requiring much more harmonization across countries.

*This post is by [Gernot Wagner, Ph.D.](http://edf.org/page.cfm?tagID=22352 "Gernot Wagner's profile"), an economist in the Climate and Air program at Environmental Defense Fund.*