Global Policy Forum

By Gawain Kripke

2.  Ecotax state of play. Ecotax analysis is more advanced than CTT tax, but is lagging in consideration of      multi-national/global administration.
a.  Ecotaxes have been implemented in several countries – especially Scandinavian countries,      Germany, UK
b.  Less discussion of harmonization, global administration

3.  Environmental groups place a high priority on green taxes.
a.  Synthesizes environmental and economic goals.
b.  Embodied in the political coalition of German Social Democrats and Green Party
c.  However, environmental NGOs have little experience in dealing with Finance Ministries or      Departments of Revenue.
d.  Many NGOs are looking at other economic signals from government policies. Reducing harmful      subsidies for timber, oil and gas production, mining, etc.

4.  Tax policy discussion is poisonous in the USA.
a.  Many thinkers are trying to subvert this destructive dialogue by pursuing taxes by other names:      auction, trade-able permits, fees, etc.
b.  The idea of harmonization is interesting. There is potential to leverage action on ecotaxes in the      USA through harmonization with other countries.
i.  EU harmonization on energy taxes is a potential model – with Spain being a     hold-out.
ii. Use of WTO or GATT?

5.  Must start small – this is a lesson from ecotaxes.
a.  Environmental taxes are usually sidelines to a larger mission. For example – environmental taxes      are sometimes enacted to remediate environmental pollution or to support the cost of regulation.      Environmental taxes are rarely enacted on their own.
b.  Once enacted, environmental taxes tend to survive.

Contact: Gawain Kripke
Friends of the Earth-USA,
1025 Vermont Avenue, NW, Suite 300,
Washington DC, 20005,
202/783-7400x212,
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