France targets carbon tax in energy transition law

Following over a year of national consultations, draft bills and parliamentary discussions, French MPs passed on 22 July 2015 the bill for an Energy Transition for Green Growth.

The substance of this bill was subject to significant re-shaping by both houses of the French parliament, as well as the government.

The adopted bill contains several last minute additions, including a Senate amendment to increase the carbon tax on fossil fuel use to €56 per ton in 2020, a four-fold increase, and €100 in 2030.

EurActiv reported in October 2016 that pressure from stakeholders had led the French government to back down on extending the carbon tax to coal-fired power stations.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: French energy transition debate heats up http://www.europeansources.info/record/french-energy-transition-debate-heats-up/

EurActiv, 24.10.16: Paris withdraws plans for carbon tax on coal http://www.euractiv.com/section/energy/news/paris-withdraws-plans-for-carbon-tax-on-coal/

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