France taxed emissions to protect the environment

French President Nicolas yesterday announced plans to enact new taxes on carbon emissions to prevent global warming.

Automotive gas loads
(Photo: aexaminer.com)

BBC said the new tax will be applied to activities related to burning gasoline, coal and gas. The tax rate is 17 euros / ton of CO ₂ . Taxable objects are households and businesses. But heavy industries and power plants are excluded.

Sarkozy said the new tax revenue would be used to finance clean energy technologies.

Le Monde newspaper said that the new tax will affect 70% of CO2 emissions in France and bring about 4.3 billion euros per year.

The French President stressed that the goal of the new tax is to encourage people to change their environmental behavior and cut greenhouse gas emissions. Opponents say it is just a way for the government to offset the budget deficit. According to the BBC, about two-thirds of French voters say they oppose emissions taxes for fear that they will have to pay more taxes.

Most electricity in France is produced from nuclear power plants.