Residents of a suburban London district will soon pay annual parking fees based on how much carbon dioxide their cars emit, penalizing owners of gas guzzlers.
Richmond Council in the west of the capital have agreed to levy a sliding scale of charges based on emissions, meaning the biggest polluters will pay £300 (NT$19,519) a year for the privilege to park outside their homes.
The charges, which will come into force in May, have sparked debate among environmental groups claiming victory against road pollution and car owners alleging unfair treatment.
PHOTO: AP
"Climate change is the defining issue of our age — it is clear that we must all change our behavior to combat its effects," said Serge Lourie, leader of Richmond Council. "For our council this is just the first step in a long process that will see us bring forward policies to move our borough and council to lower carbon emissions."
Cars with smaller engine sizes will receive a 50 percent discount on the current £100 (NT$6,506) cost of a parking permit. Cars with larger engines will have to pay higher prices.
Range Rover owner Sarah Adams, 35, who lives in Richmond, said her family shouldn't have to pay extra just because she drove a big car. "It's really unfair we're being penalized to park them," she said. "I've got two kids and a dog and it's a practical car for us."
Nigel Morris, 39, a salesman, said drivers of big cars like Adams deserve to pay more. "They pollute the streets and I think people use them as unnecessary status symbols," he said.
Other critics of the proposals agreed they were punitive measures that would hit the pockets of families and low income groups.
Environmental groups supported the move but called for further measures to be taken. (AP)
倫敦一處郊區的住戶即將依照他們汽車二氧化碳排放量的多寡,每年繳交停車費。此舉是為了處罰耗油車的車主。
倫敦西區的瑞奇蒙區議會已通過依黑煙排放量不同來徵收停車費的提案,意指最糟糕的污染者若想在家門口停車,一年要繳交三百英鎊(新台幣一萬九千五百一十九元)。
即將於五月實施的徵收費已引發爭議,環保團體聲稱這是對抗道路污染的一大勝利,汽車持有人則指稱遭到不公平待遇。
「氣候改變是這個年代的重大議題—顯然我們必須改變自己的行為來對抗這種影響。」瑞奇蒙區議會的議長塞吉.盧里耶說︰「對我們議會而言,這不過是一長串進程的第一步。整個過程將目睹我們端出政策,促使我們的自治市及議會降低二氧化碳的排放。」
排氣量較小的車輛將獲得目前停車許可費一百英鎊(新台幣六千五百零六元)的五折優惠。排氣量較大的車輛則必須繳納更多錢。
家住瑞奇蒙郡的三十五歲Range Rover 車主莎拉.亞當斯指出,她們家不該因為她開大型車,就得支付額外費用。「我們因停車受罰,相當不公平,」她說︰「我有兩個小孩與一條狗,這對我們而言是一輛實用的車。」
三十九歲的推銷員奈吉爾.莫里斯說,如亞當斯女士一樣開大型車的人,要多繳錢是天經地義。他說︰「他們污染了街道,我認為人們是把開大車當成不必要的地位象徵。」
其他批評這些提案的人認同這些是嚴苛的措施,可能會讓家庭與低收入社群的荷包大失血。
環保團體支持這項行動,但呼籲應採取進一步措施。 (美聯社/翻譯:賴美君)
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