The CO2 price for refueling and heating should rise faster – but the state should return all of the income per capita to the citizens. That’s what a new study is all about.
An alliance of environmental and social organizations as well as churches is calling on the federal government to quickly introduce a “climate bonus” to relieve the burden on citizens.
At the same time, the CO2 price in the transport and heating sectors should be raised more quickly in order to have a steering effect – that would mean that fossil fuels such as oil and gas and thus refueling and heating would become more expensive.
The associations announced on Thursday that the revenue from CO2 pricing should be returned to the population per capita. This means that each person would receive the same amount of the bonus, regardless of income and the level of CO2 emissions caused by heating and driving. With rising CO2 prices, government revenue increases, and with it the amount that is to be distributed to the population.
CO2 price continues to rise
The CO2 price in the transport and heating sector is 30 euros per ton this year, and according to the law it will rise to 55 euros by 2025. From 2026 onwards, a price corridor with a minimum price of 55 euros and a maximum price of 65 euros is to be set.
Antje von Broock, Managing Director of the Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland (Bund for the Environment and Nature Conservation) said that the pace of climate protection had to be increased, but that this had to be flanked socially. The CO2 price currently has no steering effect, this would start at 50 euros. The study assumes a per capita reimbursement of around 130 euros per year.
The President of the German Nature Conservation Ring, Kai Niebert, said: “Those who blow out a lot of CO2 and thus pollute the climate more, pay a lot, those who emit little CO2 pay little. But everyone gets the same back.”
SPD faction deputy Matthias Miersch criticized: “Anyone who is now demanding an increase in the CO2 price is accepting that broad sections of the population who cannot simply switch to new heating systems or electric vehicles are being overwhelmed.” A “per capita fee” doesn’t change anything.
measures are not sufficient
The study by the Speyer University of Administrative Sciences, with reference to measures currently under discussion, such as reducing the EEG surcharge or a higher commuter allowance, states that these are either not sufficient in the medium term to effectively compensate for the social burden of rising CO2 prices or are effective towards climate policy goals.
The general manager of the joint general association, Ulrich Schneider, said: “Any climate policy will fail with a bang if we don’t take people with us.” When asked whether a premium staggered by income level would not be fairer, Schneider said that staggering would be very complex to implement: “It would be the death of the good.”
The study comes to the conclusion that a per capita redistribution can still be implemented in this legislative period “with little bureaucracy, cost-effectively, legally certain” and in accordance with data protection. A “climate bonus” could flow to the citizens via existing payment channels.
«Climate bonus register» planned
Possible payment methods would be the monthly payroll tax statement, the monthly transfer of statutory pensions, the monthly payment of basic security and the annual tax return. The study provides for the establishment of a digital “climate premium register” at the Federal Central Tax Office. On the basis of the tax ID, this can ensure the recording of almost all those who are authorized to receive it. The premium should be paid monthly.
Christoph Bals, Political Director of Germanwatch, said that there is now a concrete implementation concept for a climate bonus. Payment could begin as early as 2023.
The coalition agreement between the SPD, Greens and FDP does not specifically state when climate money or a bonus should come. It is said that a “social compensation mechanism” should be developed beyond the abolition of the EEG levy, this is also called climate money. The Greens had campaigned for “energy money” in their election program.
The climate policy spokesman for the FDP parliamentary group, Olaf in der Beek, said: “We must now quickly get the climate money on the way so that the acceptance of climate protection measures is not endangered despite a rising CO2 price.” The Greens climate politician Lisa Badum said: “One thing is certain: the perfect model with 100 percent visibility for the citizen and zero percent bureaucracy will not exist. Above all, it is important that the ministries quickly agree on a process so that the climate money can be paid out in 2023.” SPD parliamentary group leader Miersch, on the other hand, pointed out the planned abolition of the EEG surcharge.
The study was commissioned by the German Climate Alliance, the German Nature Conservation Ring, the German Association for the Environment and Nature Conservation, Germanwatch, the Institute for Church and Society of the Evangelical Church of Westphalia and WWF Germany.
Source: Stern
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