North America's First Carbon Tax in Effect

Drivers of the Canadian West Coast province of British Columbia have become the first residents of North America to pay a carbon tax. The tax came into effect on Tuesday amidst controversy, with some prices at the pump reaching C$1.50 per litre.

The tax is an effort to entice consumers to use energy more efficiently and also to help the country achieve their goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 33 percent by 2020. Critics say that the tax will affect mainly the poor and people are already changing their habits because of high gas prices.

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photo courtesy mjb84, Creative Commons