WORLD BRIEFING / FRANCE
French President Nicolas Sarkozy launched plans for a carbon tax to encourage industry and households to cut energy consumption.
The levy, initially set at 17 euros, or $24.80, per ton of carbon dioxide emissions, will translate into a rise in the price of fuel for cars, domestic heating and factories.
In the works for months, the tax has caused a furor in France. Disagreements have broken out within the ruling party. Opposition Greens and Socialists are both critical.
The Greens broadly agree with the principle of a carbon tax but say the levy should be higher to have a meaningful impact, while the Socialists say it will hurt families already struggling to weather the worst economic downturn in more than 15 years.
A poll by IFOP for this week’s Paris Match magazine found that 65% of respondents opposed the tax, which would take effect in January.
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