This article reveals the new taxation plans in store for the governments of France and Ireland in the coming years. Both governments have announced their intention of implementing a new tax on CO2 emissions. Citizens of France would start out paying 14 euros ($20) per ton of Co2 emitted.
All carbon based fuels would be liable for taxation.
The purpose of this new tax is to encourage citizens to use carbon fuels sparingly in an attempt to maintain cleaner air. However, both articles state that this tax would bring in millions of dollars of revenue each year for government use, hinting that environmental protection may not be the number one focus of the tax.
The Labour Party of Ireland suggests that public transportation should be enhanced in succession with the new carbon tax.
This new tax seems to have been presented at a time when the governments of France and Ireland could use some assistance in controlling national debt. While the idea has been presented with intentions of controlling pollution, I think these taxes may cause more harm than good. Citizens will be forced to pay extra for the fuels that have already become a financial burden, especially in recent months. It is hard to imagine that most of them have not already cut back on their use of CO2 fuels as much as possible already. It will be interesting to see the outcome of the new taxes and whether or not environmental pollution cut down.
Articles:
http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/07/france-mulls-co2-taxes-on-citizens/
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2009/0907/breaking35.htm
No comments:
Post a Comment