(THIS ARTICLE IS MACHINE TRANSLATED by Google from Norwegian)
The so-called "green shift" has been thoroughly discussed and discussed in Norwegian media over the past year. It has been mentioned so often that it has even ended up on the Language Council's list of Norwegian new words for 2015. On the government's websites, the green shift is referred to as a transition to a society where growth and development takes place within nature's tolerance limits, including through active use of tax policy. But how can the proponents of the green shift be so sure that a change in taxes will have something to say for our consumption habits in practice?
"What is most important to us is that people should see that the environmentally friendly solutions are at least as easy to choose and cost less than the environmentally hostile ones. That is the point, "says leader of the Liberal Party Trine Skei Grande to Ny Tid. "A green shift means cheaper electric and hybrid cars, cheaper buses and cheaper green power. We must not use up the earth, and we cannot use up the resources of nature. Then we must invest more in recycling and modern technology. We will manage a change and at the same time get all the fun things done, "says Skei Grande.
She is pleased to see what she regards as an increasing popular commitment to the environment:
"More people have meat-free Mondays for the sake of the environment, grow their own vegetables in the garden, use bicycles and electric cars more than before, recycle, and holiday trips in the Norwegian mountains are again modern. I think people really appreciate being out in nature, and understand that we have to take care of it. And I think social movements have always been, and still are, a very important part of democracy. But the most important thing people can do is vote for environmental parties in elections! We are the ones who are in the fight every day in the Storting, "she says.
“The point is not to increase the total tax people have to pay. It was the I wanted to show Siv. "
Must watch. On October 6, the government will present next year's state budget. Negotiations on how to design a green tax shift have been going on since February, based on the proposals from the Green Tax Commission, which was then included in the 2016 budget agreement.
"We actually expect this to be the greenest budget of all time. We cannot wait to take the climate challenges seriously – we must act now. We have to agree that we have a climate problem, and that there is good air cleaner, cheaper environmentally friendly cars and cheaper bus and rail. We need to get cleaner air with cheaper electric and hybrid cars and cheaper public transport. In addition, it is important that electric car owners do not pay as much to own as it does not pollute the air. ”
Recently, Skei Grande traveled with British Prime Minister and Finance Minister Siv Jensen to British Columbia, Canada to learn more about the state's green tax shift system. "The lesson was that shifting taxes – to less taxes on green elections and more taxes on polluters – is very effective when politicians first dare," she says. “The point is not to increase the total tax people have to pay. It was the I wanted to show Siv. "
All sectors. But the Left has been criticized, among other things, by the Center Party for focusing too much on a green tax shift, and that this simply weakens the legitimacy of climate policy. Isn't there anything in this?
"I'm a little unsure if the Center Party understands what we're talking about. The change of taxation means that what is harmful to the climate becomes more expensive, and that which is good for the air, the sea and the earth, becomes cheaper. This is how we award green choices, and it's good for the climate, ”says Skei Grande.
Political editor in Today's Business Kjetil B. Alstadheim is one of those who have problematized the green shift. Among other things, he highlights the increased CO2 tax on petrol and diesel, while emissions from domestic fishing, shipping, construction machinery and heating may be at peace.
What is the Left leader's comment on this?
“One third of the emissions come from the transport sector, so we can't help but cut them. But we want a flat carbon tax to apply to all sectors, ”says Skei Grande.
“Alstadheim is absolutely right that we have to stimulate business and the building industry to move away from fossil energy and into renewable energy. Each sector needs its instruments to bring about change. Other solutions include support for replacement of stoves, charging points for electric ferries, and a major commitment to rail. ”
