Environment Energy Mining Watch SEE|News|Air pollution solution in Serbia requires a better policy of eco-taxes and fees

Air pollution solution in Serbia requires a better policy of eco-taxes and fees

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National Alliance for Local Economy Development-NALED proposes the introduction of higher fees for large polluters, the expansion of the coverage of harmful gases that are taxed and the change of the incentive system. The recommendations are part of the new Analysis of the Performance of Fiscal Instruments in Pollution Reduction, the full implementation of which would provide an additional EUR 18.5 million in the budget for investments in environmental protection.

– In 2015, the income from the fee for emissions amounted to 3.05 billion dinars, while in 2019, this amount increased by 105% and amounted to 6.26 billion. However, fixed amounts of fees for protection and improvement of the environment do not encourage companies to reduce emissions of harmful substances, nor are they proportional to the amount of pollution. Currently, those who do not do any damage are charged a minimum fee of 5,000 dinars, while large polluters pay little compared to the actual amount of pollution they create. That is why it is important to implement the full application of the “polluter pays” principle, ie that the costs are borne by the one who made them – says the president of the Association for Environmental Protection in NALED, Jelena Kis.

According to the results of the analysis, apart from the production of electricity, a large part of the illicit particles come from individual and other combustion plants. Although households are the main cause of the excessive increase in PM10 particles, they are not subject to any control, and the heating devices they use are sold freely on the market without respecting environmental standards.

– Our recommendation is to increase the price of coal, in order to encourage citizens to switch to more sustainable energy sources. Almost 80% of households in our country do not have a gas connection or district heating, and heating plants, although they mostly rely on natural gas (65%), also use fuel oil (18%) and coal (15%). We are encouraged that the Ministry of Environmental Protection sent three public calls to local governments, which provide a total of 400 million dinars for the replacement of individual fireplaces, renovation of old boiler rooms and afforestation, and we hope to see the first results soon – Kish points out.

According to the authors of the analysis, it is necessary to introduce the road transport sector in the system of payment of fees. The tax on the use of motor vehicles does not encourage the innovation of the vehicle fleet because it is lower for older cars. According to the Ministry of the Interior, more than half of the vehicles have old engines, the import of which is banned in the EU and the region, and it is recommended to do that in Serbia as well, to increase the tax on Euro 3 and older engines and reduce them for newer ones. The total investment in cleaner air that needs to be provided is estimated at around EUR 2.3 billion, which is why a sustainable financing system is needed, which will be based on the “polluter pays” principle. Examples of good practice show that for better quality it is necessary to replace coal with other energy sources and invest in cleaner technological solutions in industry and households.

In order for environmental taxes and fees not to represent only an additional financial burden on the economy and citizens that does not lead to changes in behavior, it is important to design a support system for the transition to cleaner alternatives in the form of subsidies and other incentives.

Source: ekapija.com

 

 

 

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