why don't we also pay money to industries that have a negative carbon footprint? I understand that taxes (Pigovian taxes) can be used to steer the economy in a certain way. For example, if you increase the taxes on things related to cigarettes, the price increase will decrease the demand. Or, if you put a carbon tax, the industry will try to produce its products in a carbon-neutral way in order to keep the prices - hence demand - on the same level, which will transform the economy in a more green one.
However, why don't we also pay money to industries that have a negative carbon footprint?
I mean, while producing your product, if you either capture some carbon or product something that can be used to capture carbon, you are directly doing a &quot;good&quot; to the society. Wouldn't this also incentivize companies not just to have a zero-carbon footprint but instead to have a negative footprint?
Are there any examples of such policies?
Are there any examples of such policies?

Yes. Under the 45Q tax credit program, the US pays

\$50 per metric ton of CO2 for projects that sequester carbon and \$35 per ton for projects where carbon is captured and then used for recovering oil underground.