Energy Ministry opposed to carbon tax for Russian cos under Paris Agreement
MOSCOW. March 15 (Interfax) - Russia's Energy Ministry is opposed to the imposition of a carbon tax that is being discussed within the context of compliance with the Paris Agreement on climate change, First Deputy Energy Minister Alexei Teksler said at a Year of the Environment in Russia forum.
"The Energy Ministry is opposed to imposing any additional fees - carbon taxes and other similar ones - that might affect the economic indicators of our companies, worsening their competitiveness on global markets," Teksler said.
He said the proposals that have been made so far "put Russian companies in unequal conditions on global markets."
"We're confident that the obligations that are now being discussed in regard to the Paris Agreement, they can be fulfilled based on a rational and reasonable attitude toward the energy sector, and for us it is completely obvious that no additional deterioration for the work of businesses in the energy sector will be required for fulfilling the Paris Agreement," Teksler said.