Thursday, November 4th, 2021
Price “doesn’t tell the truth”
According to the Federal Environment Agency, fuel is still too cheap
The prices for gasoline and diesel have skyrocketed in the past few months. But according to the head of the Federal Environment Agency, that’s not enough. He calls for a further increase in the CO2 price and, in return, a significant relief for consumers elsewhere.
The Federal Environment Agency has spoken out in favor of drastic measures so that the climate targets in the transport sector can be achieved: higher fuel prices, abolition of the commuter allowance, massive expansion of buses and trains, speed limit, car toll. The CO2 price should therefore be at least doubled from 2022 compared to the previous plan. That would mean significantly rising petrol and diesel prices. In return, the Federal Office wants social compensation.
“When it comes to climate protection, traffic is heading in the wrong direction,” said the President of the Federal Environment Agency, Dirk Messner. “Without massive efforts there, too, there will be nothing overall with climate protection.” Much more effective measures are needed in the transport sector.
“Even if fuel prices are currently very high, the prices for gasoline and diesel do not tell the ecological truth,” said Messner. “From a climate and environmental protection point of view, it makes sense to further increase the CO2 price. And this is also possible in a socially acceptable way if the state uses the additional income from CO2 pricing to significantly reduce the EEG surcharge and at the same time use climate-friendly drive technologies to promote.”
The transport sector is the only area in Germany that has not reduced its greenhouse gas emissions compared to 1990. “What is even worse: We will also clearly miss the targets we have set ourselves from the Climate Protection Act by 2030 in the transport sector if we do not take massive action.”
In a comprehensive paper, the authority proposes to gradually abolish the diesel privilege from 2023 – so far, diesel has been taxed less than petrol. In addition, the tax “subsidization” of company cars should be gradually phased out from 2022 onwards. The commuter allowance should be abolished from 2027. The authority also proposes to massively expand local public transport, bicycle and foot traffic and the railways with additional billions in funds.