France to levy carbon tax to cut emissions

Paris: In a move to discourage people from using oil and gas energy, France will impose a levy on oil, gas and coal consumption by households and businesses from next year.

This will make France the largest economy to impose such a tax that aims to reduce greenhouse gas emission from the country.

France's neighbours Sweden, Norway and Finland already pay a carbon tax, and a 17-euro per ton carbon tax means that French citizens will be paying more for car fuel and heating.

"If it's for the nature it's a good thing," said a local. But others say that they are not able to understand the carbon tax. "I don't know exactly how it will work that's what is confusing," said another local.

The new carbon tax is aimed at encouraging people to reduce their consumption of oil and gas derived energy but there's a big debate on whether it's the only solution and if everyone can afford it.

Further, it is also not clear that levying taxes is the only way to engage people to change their energy consumption patterns.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy, keen on building his green reputation, says yes, but there is stiff resistance in France from the opposition as for the people they don't really know how this green tax will take them into a post oil era.