Japanese govt. outlines proposed carbon tax

Japanese Environment Minister Sakihito Ozawa said a proposed environmental tax is expected to generate around ¥2 trillion (US$21.71 billion) in annual revenue. The tax would be levied on all fossil fuels, including gasoline, gas oil, coal and heavy oil, as part of efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. The ministry has been calling for the introduction of an environmental tax in fiscal year 2010 starting next April, as part of efforts to achieve the government’s target of cutting emissions by 25% from 1990 levels by 2020. (October 30, 2009)