It looks like the current government will not take action on the urgent issues of our time. The most urgent is climate change but it’s not the only one.
Any maybe no future government will take action either. It’s the nature of our political system that governments ignore long-term problems.
There is only one way to force them into action.
We must find a single issue with overwhelmingly popular support. Then we organise a national strike over it.
It must be a specific actionable realistic issue. For example
- A fair sales tax on all products which produce carbon dioxide or methane, in proportion to their global warming effect per kilo. This would include concrete, beef, fertilizer, fossil fuels, steel. The money shall be used to fund a cut in the general VAT rate. So these products rise in price and everything else, every less polluting product, drops in price.
- A boycott on Israel until it grants non-Jews in territories it controls equal civil rights.
- A ban on vulture funds owning housing.
First we need a public figure, or anyone influential or persuasive, to spearhead this action.
Who can do it?
Budget 2024
It was announced that Carbon Tax will increase by €7.50 per tonne of carbon dioxide emitted, from €48.50 to €56.00. This applies from 11 October 2023 for auto fuels. For all other fuels, the carbon tax will increase from 1 May 2024.
Rates
The current rate of carbon tax is €48.50 per tonne of carbon dioxide emitted.
Carbon tax is paid by the supplier of the fuel.
Thanks that’s interesting. It is not really a carbon tax through. It only applies to certain fuels. For example does not apply to jet fuel (ATF) nor shipping fuel (HFO). It does not apply to other significant greenhouse gas sources like fertiliser, concrete, beef.
It does show that this type of tax is workable, and shows a good way to implement it.
No one cares, haven’t you noticed? Not saying it isn’t the right thing to do, but the majority of voters just put their heads down and struggle through their own problems. It’shuman nature to be selfish and ignore problems that don’t immediately affect you. Climate change will wipe out most species on the planet, and if the universe is lucky, humans too. Life will go on just as it has after each mass extinction. We will either have changed our behaviour as a species or gone extinct. Either way the problem is solved.
I disagree. Polls always show strong support for these kinds of measures. This shows that they would vote for such policies of given the chance.
IMO the problem is that there is no direct practical way for the people to force the government to take action.
Today and for the foreseeable future, no real progress on clumsy change is happening. Nobody had any stronger ideas than this one.
Even if I am wrong. It’s worth a try.
Polls mean nothing, what matters is how people vote on the day (assuming they can be bothered). The Murdoch press engages in propoganda and fake science because it works. Politicians act in the best interests of whoever funds their campaigns. Human nature at it’s finest
If you care, but you’re not willing to try to make a change, then toy are worse than those indifferent people.
I cared once. But after years of doing everything I can to reduce my carbon footprint while watching the majority collectively bury their heads and refuse to acknowledge the science it just destroyed my mental health.
How can you go on living in a world in the midst of a major catastrophe while the assholes in charge do worse than nothing, while being cheered on by the average voter. The bad guys are making obscene profits and will be dead long before they have to deal with any of the consequences. Most people are too stupid and selfish to support any meaningful action.
The only peace to be found is in the knowledge that the species responsible for this will soon be extinct. Bring on the floods, fires and famine. The herd needs some serious thinning out. If the species survives, the descendants of oil executives and politicians should all go up against the fucking wall.