EU
French carbon tax ruled ‘unconstitutional’
Just days before it was due to come into effect, French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s carbon tax has been ruled unconstitutional by a court, according to press reports.
The tax, which was unveiled by Sarkozy last September as a ground-breaking tool to tackle climate change, would have levied €17 per tonne of carbon emissions from oil, coal and gas consumption.
But the court responsible for ensuring the validity of French legislation has concluded that the carbon tax would unfairly penalise ordinary households while letting many major industrial polluters off the hook.
The French Constitutional Council questioned exemptions from the tax, which it claimed would mean that over 90% of industrial emissions would not be covered.
However, Sarkozy appears not to be giving up on the carbon tax and says there will be a revised text within weeks.
For further information:
www.elysee.fr/accueil/
www.conseil-constitutionnel.fr/
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Sarkozy launches plan to reduce France’s energy use (14-Sept 2009)
France and Japan unveil plans to curb carbon emissions (15-Jun 2009)