Green taxes: New tax aims to reduce Danish consumption of industrial greenhouse gasses

Just before Christmas, the Danish Parliament adopted a new Act introducing a tax on the consumption of certain industrial greenhouse gasses (HFCs, PFCs and SF6).

HFCs, PFCs and SF6 are on the Kyoto Protocol list of greenhouse gasses whose emission is to be reduced. The substances are included on par with CO2, CH4 and N2O. Denmark and the other EU countries have agreed how to share the EU's total reduction commitment under the Kyoto Protocol between them, with Denmark having committed itself to reduce total Danish greenhouse gas emissions by 21% over the period 2008–2012.

In order to achieve this goal, broad action directed at all uses is necessary.

The tax will increase the incentive to use more environment-friendly substances than HFCs, PFCs and SF6. Similarly, the tax will increase the incentive to reduce spillage from existing systems, to collect and recycle the substances and to promote the development of alternatives.

It is expected that the tax will result in the gradual phaseout of these industrial greenhouse gasses before a ban on the use of these substances in new products enters into force.

Further information: Frank Jensen, Danish EPA. Phone: +45 3266 0423. E-mail: fje@mst.dk
A translation of the Act is available on: http://www.skm.dk/slutfil.php3?SlutFilId=1464
For the Kyoto Protocol, see: http://www.unfccc.de/resource/docs/convkp/kpeng.html


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