France to tax carbon emission in 2010
PARIS. September 12. KAZINFORM. French President Nicolas Sarkozy released a detailed program on Thursday for collecting carbon tax in 2010 to change the energy consumption habits of his people; Kazinform refers to China Daily.
In a speech delivered in the eastern French province Ain, Sarkozy said that the nation would levy a carbon tax involving crude oil, natural gas and coal starting January next year.
The initial standard for the tax, which would be collected by the government according to the proportion of emission, would be 17 euros per ton, and could be increased based on the actual situation, he added.
French Prime Minster Francois Fillon announced that the standard would be 14 euros.
Sarkozy said that the country would implement the measures step by step, adding that this was not for "replenishing the national treasury," but to change the energy comsumption habits of French households and enterprises. Thus, each family would enjoy a corresponding reduction or exemption in personal income and social welfare tax, and enterprises would get compensation in investments; Kazinform cites China Daily. See www.chinadaily.com.cn for full version.