Fine Gael’s carbon tax increase, announced last October, comes into effect today. This will mean a hike of home heating costs and result in an average increase of €61 a year for a household gas bill.
Of course, the increase is being introduced at the beginning of summer, when heating usage will be down and people will be less likely to notice the increase. By the time the costs are being felt in the winter, the increased prices will be well established.
28% of people in the 26 counties already live in fuel poverty. This will force even more people into choosing between heating their homes, buying food and paying rent. It will put more vulnerable people in danger.
Not only this, but it will not do what it is supposed to do: bring down carbon emissions. There has been a significant drop in global emissions since the Covid-19 crisis hit, because the global economy has ground to a halt. Demand for oil has hit rock bottom.
This won’t stop Mícheál Martin, Leo Varadkar and possibly Éamon Ryan telling us next year that the drop in emission tax was due to the carbon tax, but we should be clear on the reality.
Capitalism has hit the pause button for a few months. Many of the major polluters have been unable to operate, demand for their products has also plummeted, and the environmental impacts are clear to see. However, governments globally are looking to get the system moving again as soon as possible. This will again cause a spike in emissions as the drive for profits continues.
Carbon tax on the poor will do nothing to combat climate breakdown. To save the planet and the people on it, we must tackle the logic of the profit-driven system and fight for eco-socialist solutions, such as:
-Keep fossil fuels in the ground and invest in renewable energy
– Free public transport
– Nationalise the agri corporations and help small and medium farmers in a just transition
– A state-funded retro-fitting programme of houses
Read our Planet Before Profit manifesto here: eco.pbp.ie
