German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy have called for the UN to support a carbon tax on imports from countries who fail to back international efforts to fight global warming. In a joint letter addressed to UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, the two leaders said, "It would be unacceptable for the efforts of the most ambitious countries to be undermined by the carbon emissions released by lack of or insufficient action by other countries." Sarkozy, whose government is to introduce a carbon levy on domestic fuel emissions in 2010, has repeatedly argued for a European Union carbon tax on imports from regions with poor environmental standards. Germany had yet to come out in favor of a carbon tax on imports, which a German minister has warned could be perceived by developing nations as a form of "eco-imperialism."
In a joint letter addressed to UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, the two leaders said, "It would be unacceptable for the efforts of the most ambitious countries to be undermined by the carbon emissions released by lack of or insufficient action by other countries."
Sarkozy, whose government is to introduce a carbon levy on domestic fuel emissions in 2010, has repeatedly argued for a European Union carbon tax on imports from regions with poor environmental standards.
Germany had yet to come out in favor of a carbon tax on imports, which a German minister has warned could be perceived by developing nations as a form of "eco-imperialism."
