Last night, the environmental organization Greenpeace projected the message “Repsol rules here” on the façade of the Congress of Deputies, in Madrid, to express their rejection of the withdrawal of the tax on energy companieswhich is debated that Monday in the Finance Commission of the Lower House. The organization considered it “immoral” that, in a context of “terrible consequences of climate change,” “Congress does not require energy companies to pay for the damage they cause and allow them to continue enriching themselves at the expense of citizens and the planet.” .
“At a time when all the force of democracy must serve and show solidarity with the victims of DANA, there are parties that join forces with large companies to overthrow the tax justice that we need,” he declared. Eva Saldanaexecutive director of Greenpeace Spain.
Saldaña added: «We have seen how the leader of Repsol, lthe most polluting company in Spainis more focused on the dividends of its large Anglo-Saxon and Nordic shareholders than on the company’s responsibility to the society in which its businesses operate. “It is a behavior that is at the opposite end of the commitment, which volunteers and public services are showing at this time.”
The energy tax was created, temporarily (2023-24), along with the banking tax, to mitigate the impact of inflation and tax the extraordinary profits that these sectors obtained due to the economic consequences of the war in Ukraine. So far in 2024, these sectors have increased their profits even more, in a supposedly “normalized” market, Greenpeace explains in a statement. «Now there is the possibility that it becomes permanent and that companies pay for the damage they cause. Through this tax, additional resources can be raised that could finance public policies aimed at cushioning the impact generated by climate change.
social shield
Greenpeace also points out that, with the collection of the energy tax in a single year (in 2023 they were 1,164 million euros and in 2024 the Government estimates a similar amount), part of the social, economic and reconstruction shield could be paid for the areas affected by extreme climate events, such as the annual salaries of 500 civil protection members, 1,000 health professionals and 1,000 social services professionals to reinforce basic services, social aid to 50,000 vulnerable families and rehabilitation of 20,000 homes to directly serve affected families, as well as protection to 15,000 small businesses and the self-employed and to 30,000 family farmers.
The environmental organization has joined 36 social, union and environmental organizations to demand ten measures for a fairer and greener tax system, among which are, in addition to the taxes on profits fallen from the sky on banks and energy companies, the tax to luxury and private jetsthe tax on tourist rentals or the elimination of the tax regime without taxation of SOCIMIs (Listed Real Estate Investment Companies), which will also be voted on today in the Commission.
«Society needs public administrations with the capacity and effectiveness to address the costs derived from the impact of climate change, such as those that occurred this month, and invest in future projects more adapted to the new climate reality. This requires fair taxes and those with greater economic capacity to contribute more. Spain is four points below the European average in fiscal pressure and there is room for it. For this reason, civil society is demanding that politicians rise to the occasion of this difficult moment we are experiencing and close a responsible agreement,” says Carlos García Paret, Greenpeace Advocacy Coordinator.
“Whoever pollutes pays”
While the Congress of Deputies resists making the big energy companies pay, the governments are meeting at the COP29 in Azerbaijan, where one of the burning issues is the decision to make the fossil industry pay for climate action. It is estimated that at least $5 trillion a year is needed to prevent, adapt to and cover loss and damage from extreme weather events, exacerbated by the climate crisis around the world.
Greenpeace demands that the principle of “Whoever pollutes pays”through fair and green taxes that force the fossil fuel industry and other large polluters to bear, at least in part, the climate costs. In this context, the tax on energy profits should only be the beginning.
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