Volunteer efforts are important. Tradeable permits call for the responsible regulatory authority to set a ceiling or limit on total allowable emissions of a pollutant. It then allocates the allowable emissions total among the sources of the pollutant. It does this by issuing permits which authorize factories, power plants, or other sources to emit a specified amount of the pollutant over a specified period of time. Permits are allowed to be bought and sold at the current market price.
User charges are charges imposed on users of services that affect the environment.
The charges are structured to reflect the full cost of these services. The intent of the user charge is to indicate to the consumer that there are costs associated with actions that harm the environment, thereby providing an economic incentive for environmentally responsible behaviour. Deposit-Refund systems involve a surcharge that is added to the price of products that can be reused or recycled and is refunded in full or in part when the product is returned to a collection system. Environmental charges are designed to modify behaviour by imposing a charge on specific environmentally harmful activities or sources of an environmental problem. Tax incentives are designed to provide tax breaks to companies or individuals that engage in environmentally responsible actions.