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Trade Policy Implications of Carbon Labels on Food

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  • Baddeley, Shane
  • Cheng, Peter
  • Wolfe, Robert

Abstract

Despite the presence of food miles labels and carbon labels on the market for many years, relatively little data is available on how consumers respond to these labels. It is one thing to show people saying in surveys they will use carbon labels, and quite another to have evidence of people actually using them. Carbon labels could be complicated to develop and implement fairly, with significant burdens on producers, especially in developing countries. If the only problem that a carbon label solves is relieving the bad conscience of rich western consumers, then they will be a disaster. Tackling climate change is too urgent to waste time and resources on anything that may prove to be a sideshow.

Suggested Citation

  • Baddeley, Shane & Cheng, Peter & Wolfe, Robert, 2011. "Trade Policy Implications of Carbon Labels on Food," Commissioned Papers 122740, Canadian Agricultural Trade Policy Research Network.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:catpcp:122740
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.122740
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    Cited by:

    1. Nalley, Lanier & Popp, Michael & Niederman, Z. & Thompson, Jada, 2012. "Greenhouse Gas Emissions Labeling for Produce: The Case of Biotech and Conventional Sweet Corn," Journal of Food Distribution Research, Food Distribution Research Society, vol. 43(3), November.
    2. Grebitus, Carola & Steiner, Bodo & Veeman, Michele, 2015. "The roles of human values and generalized trust on stated preferences when food is labeled with environmental footprints: Insights from Germany," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 84-91.

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    Keywords

    Agricultural and Food Policy; International Relations/Trade;

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