• Pea666@feddit.nl
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    11 months ago

    Funneling subsidies and tax breaks from fossil fuel to sustainable energy sources. In the Netherlands alone, the around 40 billion euros are spent by the government each year directly or indirectly subsidizing fossil fuel.

    Kerosine airplane fuel is untaxed for example, while consumer car fuel comes with a 20% (ish) tax.

    • chitak166@lemmy.world
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      11 months ago

      Subsidies don’t actually make something cheaper, it just shifts the burden to the taxpayer.

      Taxing fossil fuels to the point where they are no longer the cheapest option is a nation shooting itself in the foot, which is why none of them do it.

      It’s not just about price for the individual. It’s about economic expansion.

      • Pea666@feddit.nl
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        11 months ago

        Sure it shifts the burden to the taxpayer and I would like my tax money to be spent on other things please.

        Companies aren’t going to change their policies voluntarily, it’s up to governments to make better decisions with my money and make other options more viable.

        • chitak166@lemmy.world
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          11 months ago

          It’s not just companies though. It’s states.

          Militaries, for example, would not be able to improve as quickly if we forewent the cheapest energy sources or made them artificially expensive.