Prices at the pump have leapt since the start of the conflict – but clinging to fossil fuels will only prolong the pain, says Berlin-based journalist Tania Roettger
Long-term the only available and viable solution is making electric vehicles more attractive (by subsidizing them, the electricity to operate them and/or punishing the purchase of ICE cars).
Carbon tax and dividend is best/only policy not subject to political BS. $300/ton is right tax level (75c/liter gasoline). In US, that would be enough to pay each citizen/resident $4000/year with unchanged behaviour. EVs are better TCO even at $1/liter gasoline. Government/polticians doesn’t need to be involved in marketing “science benefits”, and carbon tax and dividend costs 0. Let private sector convince people how to save money with a better type of car, or let people use transit/cycling or live closer to where they need to go to. You effectively do punish behaviour that needlessly wastes fuel.
EV subsidies incentivizes car purchases not car use. If a used gas guzzler is cheap because it is uneconomical for most people, someone who needs it for 10 miles/week of school drop off and groceries gets a cheap car that pays for minimal climate destruction it contributes to. West has tried EV incentives before. Political BS of giving incumbents $$$Bs, while establishment funds disinformation to protest against the subsidies and disruption of establishment. Human sustainability gets massive disinformation budget to condemn it.
Carbon tax and dividend is best/only policy not subject to political BS. $300/ton is right tax level (75c/liter gasoline). In US, that would be enough to pay each citizen/resident $4000/year with unchanged behaviour. EVs are better TCO even at $1/liter gasoline. Government/polticians doesn’t need to be involved in marketing “science benefits”, and carbon tax and dividend costs 0. Let private sector convince people how to save money with a better type of car, or let people use transit/cycling or live closer to where they need to go to. You effectively do punish behaviour that needlessly wastes fuel.
EV subsidies incentivizes car purchases not car use. If a used gas guzzler is cheap because it is uneconomical for most people, someone who needs it for 10 miles/week of school drop off and groceries gets a cheap car that pays for minimal climate destruction it contributes to. West has tried EV incentives before. Political BS of giving incumbents $$$Bs, while establishment funds disinformation to protest against the subsidies and disruption of establishment. Human sustainability gets massive disinformation budget to condemn it.