Wiebes believes in CO2 pricing for the industry but doubts about the amount Now



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Minister Eric Wiebes (Economic Affairs and Climate) is a strong supporter of a tax on CO2 emissions from polluting companies, but does not expect it to be 50 euros per tonne, as suggested De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) this week.

"The CO2 tax is the most effective, the most obvious and the most effective way to make people more sustainable," Wiebes said Wednesday night in the House of Representatives.

"I'm waiting for proposals from the industry, but they are not going as fast as the DNB's example", "said the minister.

This week, the DNB proposed to finish with a ton of CO2 emissions to 50 euros so that the polluter also pays the most expensive.The regulator on the financial markets does not expect to have major consequences on the whole of the Dutch economy, but several sectors will face a weaker international competitive position.

The House debated with Wiebes the draft climate agreement, which was largely 100 parts to five se Field climate tables have been established.The Cabinet must now give these tables (Electricity, Built Environment, Industry, Mobility and Agriculture and Land Use) guidance so that a final agreement can still be reached at the end of this year, on which the House and Cabinet may render a final judgment.

Wiebes insists on affordability

The government has called the energy transition a major challenge. In the coalition agreement, it was agreed that CO2 emissions would be reduced by at least 49% by 1990 by 1990. The ambition is 55%, but this percentage depends on progress made by other EU Member States.

Wiebes can not stress enough that the energy transition should be affordable and profitable. This happened so often that the PVV's Alexander Kops became suspicious. Kops was concerned about the costs. According to him, the energy bill will increase by 150 EUR per year in 2019. "How affordable?" According to the PVV.

Thierry Baudet (Forum for Democracy) is also one of the skeptics of the House regarding climate change and the influence of Dutch measures. According to Baudet, the Netherlands will eventually lose 1,000 billion euros of climate-related costs, instead of the annual 3 to 4 billion euros from 2030 planned by the agency. 39, Environmental Assessment of the Netherlands (PBL).

Wiebes, however, erased these figures. The energy bill will increase next year according to the calculations of the PBL of more than 100 euros. The € 1 trillion Baudet was talking about is, according to the minister, based on a miscalculation. "Donkey adds up the investments, costs, subsidies and taxes, and you get double counting, which does not match the amounts we want to scare off the citizens."

Egg of Columbus

There was also another way of introducing CO2 pricing: the External Cost Tax (VEK). This can be seen as a kind of VAT on CO2. All producers involved in the production process must abandon and transmit their CO2 emissions. For example, polluting products become more expensive.

This is an idea of ​​Frans Rooijers, director of the environmental research and consultancy agency CE Delft. Wiebes called the plan "Columbus egg", but at the same time "extraordinarily complex"

Coal-fired power plants closed earlier

GroenLinks leader, Jesse Klaver, insisted that Wiebes is making bigger steps. For example, coal plants should be closed next year; instead of 2030, the two oldest will have to close in 2024. It is also necessary to look into the introduction of road pricing, an effective way to reduce CO2 emissions according to the law on patent reserves.

However, Wiebes rejected these projects, ruling that they were too numerous and too fast. In addition, other agreements were reached on these points in the coalition agreement.

Klaver was supported by the Urgenda case. According to this decision, the government must do more to reduce CO2 emissions by 25% in 2020 compared to 1990.

D66 chief Rob Jetten also said that the closure of coal-fired power plants was "a logical option ". He also suggested lowering the speed limit on the roads.

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