OECD makes case for green taxes, but only some EU countries listen
A new paper from the OECD on efficient taxation says raising the importance of property taxation and environmental levies is vital for improving government finances.
News
Too many biofuel crops cause hunger, says adviser
An advisory body to the German government says the country should not increase imports of crops for biofuels or it will contribute to hunger in developing countries.
ECJ rules Austrian lorry ban illegal
Austria’s transport policy suffered another setback in December when the European Court of Justice said a ban on dirty lorries on part of the A12 motorway through the Tyrol region was illegal.
Motorway to go?
The city of Madrid may have to remove a motorway as the regional government breached the EU environmental impact assessment and habitats directives in building it.
Cycle for health
Researchers have identified more evidence that climate-friend means of transport are good for health as well as the environment.
A 20-year wait for a disappointing revision of vehicle noise limits
The Commission has published its long-awaited proposals on reducing noise from cars, vans, buses and lorries, but the vast majority of cars already meet the first stage of the stricter limits, and almost a quarter meet the second stage. T&E says the proposals should have gone ‘farther and faster’, and has called for a third stage in the timetable in order to create an incentive for quieter vehicles.
'Fundamental rethink’ needed on EU biofuels policy
The United Nations’ special rapporteur on the right to food has called for an urgent rethink in EU biofuels policy before too much investment is made on the back of unsustainable biofuels targets. His comments come as more evidence emerges that biofuels may be a poor means of tackling climate change.
IMO’s climate efforts could save ship operators $50bn a year
The IMO’s mandatory efficiency measures for ships, agreed in July, could save ship operators $50 billion a year by 2020.
Progress at Durban but no action for nine years
The ‘Durban Platform’ may become as commonly known as the Kyoto Protocol, following a loose agreement at this month’s Durban climate change summit on a plan to work towards a global climate strategy. The plan is to agree the strategy by 2015 and for it to start in 2020.
Energy tax reform stuck in stupidity
Opinion
by Magnus Nilsson, T&E Senior CampaignerRaising taxes on fossil fuels is pretty much the only climate policy tool that in all circumstances delivers real emission reductions. Telling people that the cost of petrol and diesel will have to rise may be a difficult message for politicians to put across, but if this method is rejected or not possible, climate policy will simply become unnecessarily costly.