Eco taxes must not punish us

NEW environmental policies will go before the States early next year. Prime Minister Tony Blair has backed a hard-hitting report on climate change and Labour is also looking to embrace green taxes to combat global warming.

Environment minister Bernard Flouquet said that introducing such levies would need to be considered carefully to ensure people did not pay twice.

'The energy group of the Policy Council is in the process of preparing a high-level policy. This will recommend the direction the States should take.

'A number of sub-policies can support a drive for clean energy and energy efficiency: education, green procurement, building regulations, micro-generation and tapping natural energy resources. We'll be looking at all these issues, but it's up to the States to give the go-ahead,' he said.

Using taxes to drive change was a very effective measure, if used correctly, he said.

'But we need to consider what's right.

'If the UK places one on goods at the point of manufacture, it would be inappropriate for us to apply further tax. We would not want to penalise the community twice.'

Environment Secretary David Miliband has put tax plans to Chancellor Gordon Brown, including hitting cheap flights, which could affect incoming passengers.

'I'm supportive of green taxes,' said Deputy Flouquet.

'At the same time, as a small community we can apply ourselves to other aspects. One is energy conservation, but to

put a tax onto aircraft fuel for people

leaving the island could cause disruption to our own economy.'

Treasury and Resources' successful States report on abolishing road tax did not stress the environmental case forcibly enough, said Deputy Flouquet.

'I believe the whole global warming issue is coming into sharp focus.

'I think everyone is extremely aware of it and with things like energy conservation, lots of people can do something for themselves without taxes.'

Friends of the Earth Guernsey spokeswoman Michelle Levrier said the States would be looking to raise taxes to fill the 'black hole', focusing on things such as waste and sewage disposal.

Taxing specifics such as plastic bags, polystyrene food containers and chewing gum was fairer than a general sales tax, she said, because people could change their behaviour to avoid the levy.

'It's not only the black hole we have to fill - the States is going to have more expenditure because of global warming on things such as coastal defences, storm damage, managing water resources and disease control,' she added.

'So taxes are going to go up - that's inevitable.'

A report by economist Sir Nicholas Stern suggests that global warming could shrink the world economy by 20%.

Mr Blair said it was a wake-up call to every country in the world.

'The report is clear.

'We are heading towards catastrophic tipping points in our climate, unless we act.'