On January 1, CO₂ prices for fossil fuels will rise. The Social Association VdK is calling for relief for low-income households.
epd/ | | In view of rising CO₂ prices, the Social Association VdK is calling for targeted relief for low earners. “While households with higher incomes can comparatively more easily bear the rising CO₂ prices or compensate by switching to climate-friendly alternatives, the burden on low incomes is significantly harder,” said VdK President Verena Bentele on Tuesday. People with limited financial resources often do not have the necessary means to, for example, switch to an electric car.
A “socially fair climate package” is needed, emphasized Bentele. This includes targeted support for e-mobility, helping lower-income groups in the switch to electric cars, for example through a purchase premium. In addition, a reliable public transport system is needed, a price-stable Germany ticket and a nationwide social ticket as a real alternative to owning a car.
To reduce energy prices for heating homes, there must be a socially tiered subsidy for building renovations, added Bentele. The VdK president also advocated revisiting the considerations for a socially tiered climate money. Such a compensation payment had been announced by the traffic-light coalition in the previous legislative period, but ultimately not implemented.
From next year, consumers will have to pay a higher CO₂ price on heating oil, natural gas, gasoline and diesel. From January 1, a price corridor of 55 to 65 euros per tonne of carbon dioxide will be introduced. The price increase amounts to up to about 3 cents per liter for gasoline and diesel and up to 0.22 euro cents per kilowatt-hour for natural gas.
Environment Ministry to Provide Relief
“As the CO₂ price continues to rise within the framework of national climate protection policy, several relief measures for consumers simultaneously provide a noticeable dampening of the energy costs for private households,” says a statement from the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate, and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN). Among these for the ministry are, for example, the reduction of the gas storage levy and tax relief for companies. In addition, the commuter allowance is being increased to 38 cents from the first kilometer driven.
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