A German government decision to back an almost total exemption for industry from new rules that would force companies to pay for the carbon dioxide they emit threatens to undermine a key tenet of European Union climate policy, climate campaigners warn. The decision is a victory for German industry, which feared European Commission proposals for an auction of carbon emission permits would cost billions of euros and restrict its ability to compete internationally. Sigmar Gabriel: seeks establishment of special rules Angela Merkel, chancellor, warned recently that although she supported the need to tackle climate change, she