It's no secret that we need to reduce our carbon emissions if we want to stop global warming and the depletion of our planet's natural resources. Knowing this, what steps do we take to adjust our carbon footprint? Lawmakers in France are taking a bold step by implementing a tax on carbon usage!

Announced by President Nicolas Sarkozy yesterday, the plan aims to reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions in France by taxing polluters 17 Euros ($24.64 US) per ton of carbon emitted. Both businesses and individuals will be included in this ruling, whether they like it or not. The only folks who are not included are those already paying a carbon tax- utilities and heavy industries.

The tax is estimated to cover 70% of the country's carbon emissions and will yield 4.3bn euros, though President Sarkozy says that that is not the purpose of the tax. Rather, he hopes this ruling will persuade the French to "change their habits and cut energy consumption."

This isn't the first time the idea of carbon tax has been put on the table, matter of fact, top climate scientist have long been saying that this would be more efficient than a cap and trade system at halting emissions. They say it is easier to institute, regulate, and measure.

We are sure this will have plenty of opposition, but we have to admire their guts, and desperate times call for desperate measures. Money talks, that's for sure, so it will be interesting to keep a watch on how this affects France's carbon emissions.

What do you think about a carbon tax - good idea or bad idea?

via TreeHugger