Will carbon change the price of everything?

We usually think of climate change as an environmental issue, but it's increasingly becoming an economic one. The European Union has already introduced carbon border taxes, and the UK, Canada, Australia and the United States are all moving in the same direction. Together, these changes could reshape global trade and influence the price of everything from aluminium to food.
 
In this talk, we'll unpack the surprisingly simple economics behind these new rules and explore what they could mean for New Zealand. Could our renewable electricity become a competitive advantage, or will carbon become another cost for exporters to navigate? From Tiwai Point to our farms, we'll explore why products may soon carry two price tags—one in dollars and one in carbon—and what that could mean for our economy and our future.

Bio

Dr Onur Koska is an Associate Professor of Economics at the University of Canterbury. His research focuses on international trade, industrial organisation and public policy, examining topics such as trade policy, foreign market entry, competition, taxation and environmental regulation. He is the Editor-in-Chief of New Zealand Economic Papers, the leading journal for economic and policy research in New Zealand, Australia, the Pacific and Asia. Onur also serves on the Council of the New Zealand Association of Economists and co-organises leading Australasian conferences and initiatives supporting research in international trade and industrial organisation.

Event

Tuesday, 15 September 2026, 8:00pm – 9:00pm @Craft Embassy,

The other talk at this location is Can maths help us respond to a pandemic? at 6:30pm – 7:30pm