Due to the on-going global recession and economic uncertainty,
governments are looking to environmental taxation as a possible
way to bolster tax revenues. ACCA says that for this to happen
successfully, governments need buy-in from business and their
electorates. Chas Roy-Chowdhury, author of the report and head
of taxation at ACCA says: 'Tax shifting to environmental
taxation cannot both solve the environmental crisis and raise
significant tax income long term. This is because a system aimed
at reducing what it is taxing, if successful, will eventually
destroy its own tax base.' ACCA’s paper offers a number of
recommendations about green taxation, asserting that first and
foremost a global approach to green taxation is needed. Chas
Roy-Chowdhury explains: 'Environmental taxes are an efficient
but controversial way for governments to raise revenue. Most
agree that making the polluter pay should be a principle of a
modern tax system. But this needs to be done with care –
especially to avoid companies relocati