Taxing environmentally harmful practices could bring in €415m annually for green investment, say Environmental Pillar
September 1st, 2016
Environmental groups are calling on the government to tax environmentally damaging practices in the upcoming budget to change behaviour and raise government revenue.
The Environmental Pillar, an advocacy coalition of 28 Irish environmental NGOs, has today released a Budget Submission, in which it proposes three simple measures: a levy on single-use items, a levy on the aggregates, and a levelling of the excise duty on petrol and diesel, which they propose would provide a revenue source in the region of €415m every year.
These proposals, which would shift the point of taxation from income-based to consumption-based in a move to broaden the tax base, are accompanied by strategies for government investment in sustainable infrastructure and environmental protection. In moves that would prevent further contribution to, and combat the effects of climate change, they call for an increase in capital expenditure in areas such as public transport and peatland restoration. Other proposed proposed measures include restoring the Environment Fund to at least its 2008-2010 level of €60m per annum by introducing new polluter-pays levies, and introducing mandatory feed-in tariffs for the purchase of electricity from domestic and community renewable energy sources.
In a statement accompanying the release, the Environmental Pillar said: “these measures would improve our environment and promote a more sustainable future with people and the environment as its core.”
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