China to impose green tax on heavy polluters

[alp227]

Source: The Guardian

China is to impose an environmental tax on heavy polluters under an ambitious cleanup strategy being finalised in Beijing, according to experts familiar with the programme.

The tax will be included alongside the world's most ambitious renewable energy scheme and fresh efforts to fight smog when the government unveils the biggest, greenest five-year plan in China's modern history next month.

After three decades of filthy growth, the measures are designed to pull the country from the environmental mire and make it a leader in the low-carbon economy. But sceptics question whether the policy will have any more success than previous failed efforts to overcome the nexus of corrupt officials and rule-dodging factory bosses.

The environmental tax – which will levy fees according to discharges of sulphur dioxide, sewage and other contaminants – is intended as a disincentive for polluting industries, many of which have flocked to China to take advantage of low costs and weak regulations.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/feb/04/china-green-tax-polluters

[Wait Wut]

1. Fantastic!

Now, if they could do something about their human rights violations I'd be thrilled to pieces. Not going to knock them for a good start, though.

[groundloop]

2. But, but, but.... a tax on polluters is Communistic !!!

As already mentioned, this is at least a move in the right direction. Since it's going to be more expensive to pollute I wonder if some companies will be discouraged from outsourcing to China.

[saras]

3. Something else we've failed at...

[dkofos]

4. Looks like dirty jobs will be coming back to the USA.

As soon as the repubes get rid of the EPA.

[rasputinkhlyst]

5. Well here is a contrast....

China taxes them and the USA still subsidizes them even though they make enormous profits. Tell me Congressmen do the oil companies need subsidizes more than the older folks need social security?

[burrowowl]

6. If they do

its a good thing. The US is falling behind in everything.