Ireland's Carbon Tax: A Game Changer for Emissions

0:00Europe news today, powered by AI bringing you what matters across Europe. I'm Corey with the story. Ireland's carbon tax is hitting emissions, like cigarette taxes crush smoking rates. Back in the day, smokes cost ¾ tax per pack, dropping adult smokers from 27% to 18% over two decades. 8. 100,000 quitters. Now, carbon's the real killer. Way worse for the planet, so taxing it per ton pushes folks to cleaner choices. Sweden kicked it off 35 years ago, at 23 euros per tonne, now at 138, letting emissions have per person to. 4.5 tons, even as their economy doubled. Ireland started at 15 euros in 2010, hit 71 for motor fuels last October, aiming for 100 by 2030 with. Studies 750 bumps yearly. It pulls in over 1 billion euros annually, all locked for green retrofits, fuel aid, and farm schemes. Protests rage, especially from farmers, but is just 16 cents extra per liter petrol, 19

1:05for diesel 350, a week for the average, 17,000 kilometer driver. Half of households are better off, low income ones most, via free upgrades and payments. Emissions hit 3 decades lows in 2023, thanks to these measures. Undersnag 170 million for eco projects, plus green diesel breaks, yet lobby hard. EVs match gas car prices in ranges now, electric trucks and tractors roll out, even half of China's truck sales by end of 2025. Grants up to 500,000 euros help heavy haulers switch. As oil shocks loom, this tax is our shot to ditch fossils for homegrown clean power, dodging bigger crises down the road. Time to lean in, before it's too late.