Oh La La! French Get Carbon Tax
The French are to introduce a new carbon tax for both households and enterprises, reports BBC News Online. The French President has announced the plans today in a bid to fight climate change.
The tax will be brought in next year and will apply to oil, gas and coal. The tax will be 17 euros or £15 per tonne of emitted CO2 and will be phased in gradually. Heavy industry will be exempt from the tax as will power companies which will be included in the EU’s emissions trading scheme.
Most electricity in France though will be excluded from the tax because it’s generated by nuclear power.
The new tax has received mixed revues though and many consumers are worried about increased bills. The French President wants consumers to change how they live and reduce their energy consumption but critics argue the new tax is just a way of increasing government funds.
Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8248392.stm