Battle lines sharpen on carbon tax as EC climate policy advances

The shape of the EC's strategy to combat global warming became a little clearer after the Environment Council on 22-23 March agreed two measures on ratification of the UN Convention on Climate Change and a mechanism to monitor Member States' progress in controlling emissions of greenhouse gases. But the meeting sharpened disagreements about the proposed EC carbon/energy tax, and imposed strict limits on the Community's powers to influence national measures on greenhouse gases. Ministers finally reached agreement on the Regulation on eco-auditing.