Plans to charge polluters for the amount of carbon they emit have split Councillors in Bath and North East Somerset.

Councillor Joanna Wright, the only Green, said taxing carbon use and paying out a citizens’ dividend could bring down emissions in a way that is equitable and fair for all.

The former Liberal Democrat accused her old colleagues of “greenwashing” by instead pushing for carbon pricing she said would create a new market for fossil fuels.

But Lib Dem cabinet member Sarah Warren said billionaire emitters could buy their way out of a carbon tax and it would hit low-income households hardest.

She said the details were best left to experts at the Treasury.

Speaking at the full Council meeting on November 17th, Councillor Wright said: “The scale of what is needed is politically uncomfortable. It is much easier to stick with our current behaviour than face up to the evidence that tells us that we need to change that behaviour now.

“Creating a new vision for how we all live on the earth in a way that uses less CO2 is essential to our survival.

“Taxing high CO2 polluters to fund the transition to a much more carbon-neutral way of living for everyone and creating better public health, affordable public transport and improved housing and buildings is essential to that vision.”

She said the Lib Dem amendment to her motion was “totally inadequate” and amounted to “greenwashing”, adding: “Putting a price on the burning of fossil fuels by creating a carbon tax is an equitable way to deliver that change; carbon pricing does not achieve this change.”

Councillor Warren, who proposed the amendment, said it was a shame Councillor Wright declined her offer to collaborate to reach consensus on the issue.

She listed various efforts to reduce emissions but said: “This Council is not doing enough in the face of the environmental emergencies – no council could, but we are doing a huge amount given the constraints upon us.”

She said carbon pricing could include a carbon tax but the details of the mechanism should be left to the Treasury.

Lib Dem Councillor Andy Furse said the Council should be dealing with “easy wins closer to home” rather than “national grandstanding”, like banning space heaters or diesel generators when roadworks are going on.

Stephen Sumner, LDRS