In a move sure to set off a tirade from Joe Romm, we have this story from the BBC:
French government backs down on carbon tax plan
The French government has signalled that it is dropping a plan for a tax on domestic carbon dioxide emissions.
Jean-Francois Cope, parliamentary leader of the governing UMP party, was quoted as saying the tax “would be Europe-wide or not (exist) at all”.
Prime Minister Francois Fillon told parliament that the government should focus on policies that increased France’s economic competitiveness.
France had been rethinking the tax after a court rejected it last year.
The Constitutional Council said there were too many exemptions for polluters in the tax plan, and that a minority of consumers would bear the burden.
But President Nicolas Sarkozy’s government had still been planning to push through a revised version of the measure later this year.
more at the BBC here
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Good. Now let’s start taking full advantage of safe French nuclear power experience to start along the road to dealing with peak oil whenever that is.
I guess that leaves the Brits in bit of bind, them being the only major euro state with green (i.e. anti-economy) taxes.
The French have always had a strong sense of self preservation. It is insane for any country to depress their own economy on the basis of a falsified hypothesis. It is a clever move to deflect criticism by saying they will wait for an EU agreement on carbon tax. I also expect they will stall and ignore any such EU legislation when it is enacted, as the do with current rules.
Just wish politicians in England were brave enough to do the same, although it seems they would rather get into bed with the USA for some unexplainable reason?
David A. i agree that Obama cares little about the citizens IWouldn’t surprise
me at all to see EPA issue all those regulations. The number of lawsuits
against Healh Care law is 14 states A lot of states want that CO2 Endangerment
verdict dropped. It is like a “Sword of Damocles” over industry.
Off-topic but always topical – a new post on climate models:
Models, On – and Off – the Catwalk – Part Two
I’m going to Fax copy of the article to the Kerry and Gram.
Tenuc (16:38:02)
In the UK I think part of the reason the Conservative party poll lead has eroded away is that people are nervous of the trendy activism of David Cameron now the reality of an election is looming. Cameron has styled himself a treehugger championing AGW, antinuclear, anti 3rd Heathrow runway (after the strike this wont be needed anymore anyway) etc.
If Labour had courage and intelligence they would sieze the opportunity thus presented, adopt a reserved position on climate change, promote an open scientific debate etc. Present a safe and sensible image versus the risky Tory activism. The French precedent could help.
Yes — people are getting off the bandwagon, a sign its momentum is fading. US politicians will take note.
Don Shaw (13:25:55) : “…the pollution levels are very low unless water vapor is declaired a pollutant.”
Don! Shhhh!!!
agw_skeptic99 (15:52:59) : “The English burned Joan ‘d Arc and boil their beef”
And do both to their coffee. English coffee, last time I was there, was insidious. It was so bad that I found myself unable to believe that the first sip had actually been that hideous, so I took a second sip. It was every bit as bad as I’d been warned. In fact, it was “worse than we thought.”
Justa Joe (13:27:54) : “…Of course, these taxes mostly hurt the poor working stiff on the assembly line making the cars, which are subject to the tax.”
Yes, one of our wackazoid Democrat presidents put a tax on yachts a while back. Instant unemployment for several hundred boatyard workers. A great victory for the worker, comrades? Socialism up close sucks.
“Vuk etc…….lines of magnetic force ……”
Thanks for that and for the links which I will study.
AS you are aware, there is a theory that the underlying long term linear trend in temperature, post Maunder Minimum, is due to changes in the strength of the lines of magnetic force between sun and earth (Svensmark; Kirby at CERN etc), through intensitivity of cosmic rays, cloud formation, etc.
It would indeed be interesting if, as you say, the periodic ocean cycles (which vary from 11 to 65 years in length, depending on which ocean) are also due to changes in solar cycles.
Vuk etc
I meant to add that there is a 65 year zigzag cycle running through the NCDC global monthly land and ocean temperature record fro 1880.
You can see that easily if you calculate the linear trend and then deduct that from the temperature.
What is left is the trendless 65 year zigzag cycle, plus short term noise from El Nino La Nina, volcanoes etc.
The zigzag cycle is very pronounced.
If the global market meldown had not occurred, we all would be knee deep in new carbon taxes.
Right now, cuts, cuts, cuts.
So scientsists are seeing the lining coming. Trim the fat from the beef!
Phlogiston
I agree totally, just don’t think Brown has the bXlls for it, and he would have a credibility problem after that simpering idiot Millibands spoutings (oh…and Benn jr)…….though thinking about it, he might get a cred bonus for chucking Millaband under a bus…now theres a thought. Oh happy days….
R. de Haan (13:54:33) :
“Sarcozy has no choice.
His party just lost the elections and he does not like the idea losing France to the Left!
In two years he’s up for Presidential elections again.
So, he will keep low profile with any climate related ruling.”
I agree with Ron here.
mikef2 (18:05:18)
As an alternative to the bus option, he could pack Milliband off to the EU parliament. Fewer legal complications.
“The ghost of Big Jim Cooley (15:36:39) :”
I must remind you that French was the primary spoken language in England and remained the official language for Govn’t and law etc, as well as latin, for some time before, thanks to the printing press and The Bible, old English became popular and the official language.
Have you heard of the French paradox? How can the French get away with eating such rich, high fat content foods and still remain one of the healthiest, low obesity prone, countries? Wine, olive oil, garlic and quality foods.
I have always admired the French when they don’t like what their leaders try to impose, like fuel taxes etc. Motorways get blocked by truckers!
As mentioned the French also generate lots of electricity via Nuclear, 80%+ I think, and they sell the stuff to the Pomes too.
PS. I am English too.
Prime Minister Francois Fillon told parliament that the government should focus on policies that increased France’s economic competitiveness
Back to reality. Norway is going nuclear too:
http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/news/1341/green-nuclear-power-coming-norway
No more windmills!, just with the windmills “of your mind” is enough.
Both pro-nuclear and pro-AGW, France is like a mad people psychologically devided, but it is the plurality that is the cornerstone of the post-war France. Seemingly a politically very left country in the American sense, the indeed right-leaning country have been using pragmatism to establish themselves as a balance between all the powers. Carbozy was elected to get the France out of the troubles, economical, educational, et cetera, but he failed, and the country continues its ideological struggle. It’s time for Sarkozy to move.
Vive la France!
From the Daily Telegraph (UK)
Chantal Jouanno, the environment secretary, said she was “devastated that eco-scepticism had prevailed”.
Methinks Chantal Jouanno can see his/her (not sure which!) job and government department going out of the window.
Hence the reason why Milliband, Chantal Jouanno counterpart in the UK, still bangs on about AGW!
A new French Revolution!
[but a better one, no doubt]
Well done.
Vive la france!
Chris
Norfolk, VA, USA
Good to see the headline of this piece had that two word qualifier — “for now.” Sadly, there are too many politicians all over the world who’ve never met a tax they didn’t like. For every problem they can find or make up, they’re sure to find a tax that’ll fix the problem.
I may have to pop open a bottle of French wine tomorrow!