Taxing Vehicles Based on Their Environmental Impact

The New Zealand Herald reports:

Germany’s government plans to tax cars based on emissions instead of engine size to help tackle climate change, Transport Minister Wolfgang Tiefensee said.

Tiefensee told a news conference early Sunday that German and other European carmakers had to do more to protect the environment, after the head of the UN Environment Programme had chided Europe for complacency over climate change.

"The government will be pursuing that aim and that’s why we’re going to reform the motor vehicle taxes. The size of the engine will no longer be the determining factor but rather the impact on the environment, not only CO2 but other pollutants," he said.

Photo: Simone Ramella/Flickr

ALSO ON STREETSBLOG

Brit’s Liberal Dems Want to Ban Cars Fueled By Gasoline

By Jason Varone |
Britain’s Liberal Democrat Party unveiled a detailed plan to tackle climate change which includes a ban on fossil fuel powered cars by 2040. The Guardian reports: The Liberal Democrat leader, Sir Menzies Campbell, and the party’s environment spokesman, Chris Huhne, unveiled the proposal today as part of a package of measures designed to make Britain […]

Climate Change: It’s What’s for Dinner

By Brad Aaron |
For years, animal rights and welfare groups have maintained that the factory farming of animals for human consumption wreaks havoc on the environment. Now that climate change has become a mainstream issue, they’re taking it up a notch. Bolstered by a recent United Nations report "stating that the livestock business generates more greenhouse gas emissions […]

Boxer Delays Senate Climate Bill Until September

By Elana Schor |
This was supposed to be a big week for action on climate change in the Senate — but it’s ending with Republicans rubbing their hands in glee as the Environment and Public Works Committee delays its unveiling of legislation on carbon emissions. Senate environment committee chairman Barbara Boxer (D-CA) (Photo: AP) As Reuters reports this […]