Fireflybob is correct that improving the health of poorer nations will have a positive impact, but improving the education available to girls in poorer nations is also very important. Of course health before education on the heirachy of needs. Education offering choices, and thereby empowering young girls is so important in all matters relating the health of the planet, and all of us on it. If women are unequal then their only role is to be mothers. Equality means better outcomes for men and women.

You're missing the essential point though. Most people don't mind paying taxes, as long as they perceive there is a value in it. If the amount raised went to dealing with so called climate change, it wouldn't be that much of an issue. But it won't be, it will be used for every other purpose but that. Just like most other taxes. Wealth redistribution by stealth. Nothing more.

Porch Monkey's post is precisely correct, with the possible exception of the words "by stealth."

Well there is a lot of hoo ha over a tax that has not begun yet. I do know that the Scandinavian countries where taxes are very high have the lowest discrepency between the rich and poor, positive health outcomes for more people, better access to higher education etc. I also know that to a large extent most of our governments are run by big business behind the scenes. The miners, pharamaceuticals, transport. Can I ask people here to read Wayne Swans "manifesto" published in the monthly. I found it quite thought provoking. And for humour on world events but educational as well watch the Daily Show with Jon Stewart, and the Colbert report. Big business usually seems to get what they want, but less so with the labour party than the libs. And certainly not with the greens.

In Europe, as far as aviation is concerned, the Greens get just what they want - no new runways, more passenger taxes, an ETS so burdensome that the rest of the world can't stomach it.

You almost had me till you mentioned Wayne Swan, manifesto, and the workers friend, the Labour Party! Whatever you're smoking, I'll have some. Please refer back to my previous post, re wealth redistribution. You may not like it, but I work hard to make the money that I get. The fact that others make more, or they make less is of little concern to me. I do what I can to assist those less fortunate than myself. But I will choose who that is, not some filthy, lying, trough swilling politician. Regardless of the party they represent!

So, pray tell Lisa, how you rationalize the fact that this tax is applied to an aircraft, even though part or nearly all of it's journey doesn't even take place in the airspace of the EU?

Wealth redistribution by (not so) stealth, nothing more or less.

Plenty of countries charge a sales tax on the price of a ticket from A to B, not on the price from A to a point where the flight crosses the border. That's pretty disgusting too, I guess.

True, but you can argue that it should be based in the country that the transaction takes place in. At least that is the general consensus. This isn't the same tho, is it........

@SSK

I am sure you can name a few such countries?

If they want to call it a sales tax though, just call it a sales tax. Tell the traveling public "look, we've gotten ourselves into a bit of a debt jam, we're going to tax everything we can think of. This is even better because foreigners have to pay too!"

Just tell me that, don't hide behind some environmental nonsense when none of the money collected is earmarked for any environmental purpose.:rolleyes:

Seems like this nonsense will continue for some time. Mind you, it could be interesting to see the result of the EU China summit.

BBC News - UN body at centre of Emissions Trading Scheme storm