High-emission businesses face carbon taxation
Source: Xinhua |
March 10, 2010, Wednesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
CHINESE political advisers are calling for imposing a carbon tax on energy-intensive and high-emission businesses and promoting low-carbon awareness campaigns among the public amid efforts to combat global climate change.
It was "obviously necessary" and "feasible" for China to levy an environmental tax on the carbon content of fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas, Jia Kang, director of the Research Institute of Fiscal Science with the Finance Ministry, said yesterday.
"That will help reduce carbon emissions, eliminate low-efficiency and backward technologies, encourage the development of clean energy and low-carbon industries, and promote sustainable development," he said.
Jia, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, made the remarks while attending the ongoing annual session of the country's top political advisory body in Beijing.
He said China had imposed levies to protect the environment, such as the fuel tax, but the environmental system still needed improvement.
"As a tax directly targeting carbon emissions, a carbon tax is able to markedly strengthen the control of carbon dioxide emissions and energy consumption," he said.
Jia also said the levying of a carbon tax may reduce risks of being hurt in international trade friction.
He cited some developed countries that were considering imposing such a tax and likely to impose carbon tariffs on imported products from other countries that do not have quotas for emissions reductions - like the American Clean Energy and Security Act passed by the United States House of Representatives last June.
"But if we have already levied a carbon tax in China, the other countries would be suspected of double taxation by imposing carbon tariffs, violating World Trade Organization agreements," he said.
"If the reform of resource taxes goes well, we can consider starting to levy a carbon tax within two to five years after that reform is completed."
China would build an industrial system and consumption pattern with low carbon emissions, Premier Wen Jiabao said in his government work report delivered on March 5 at the opening of the annual session of the country's top legislature, the National People's Congress.
The country would work hard to develop low-carbon technology and new and renewable energy resources to fight climate change, he said.
It was "obviously necessary" and "feasible" for China to levy an environmental tax on the carbon content of fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas, Jia Kang, director of the Research Institute of Fiscal Science with the Finance Ministry, said yesterday.
"That will help reduce carbon emissions, eliminate low-efficiency and backward technologies, encourage the development of clean energy and low-carbon industries, and promote sustainable development," he said.
Jia, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, made the remarks while attending the ongoing annual session of the country's top political advisory body in Beijing.
He said China had imposed levies to protect the environment, such as the fuel tax, but the environmental system still needed improvement.
"As a tax directly targeting carbon emissions, a carbon tax is able to markedly strengthen the control of carbon dioxide emissions and energy consumption," he said.
Jia also said the levying of a carbon tax may reduce risks of being hurt in international trade friction.
He cited some developed countries that were considering imposing such a tax and likely to impose carbon tariffs on imported products from other countries that do not have quotas for emissions reductions - like the American Clean Energy and Security Act passed by the United States House of Representatives last June.
"But if we have already levied a carbon tax in China, the other countries would be suspected of double taxation by imposing carbon tariffs, violating World Trade Organization agreements," he said.
"If the reform of resource taxes goes well, we can consider starting to levy a carbon tax within two to five years after that reform is completed."
China would build an industrial system and consumption pattern with low carbon emissions, Premier Wen Jiabao said in his government work report delivered on March 5 at the opening of the annual session of the country's top legislature, the National People's Congress.
The country would work hard to develop low-carbon technology and new and renewable energy resources to fight climate change, he said.
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