Low-income people have less of a burden on the climate, but feel the consequences of environmental pollution more strongly. An ecobonus should now change that.
Poverty is also more affected by climate change than high-income groups. This is not only the case globally, but also regionally. While global climate change is hitting developing countries much harder than industrialized countries, low-income people nationally contribute less to the climate crisis, but feel the effects of environmental pressures such as air pollution, heat, floods and drought more clearly. The lower the household income, the greater the share of housing, energy and food in the household budget. It is precisely these three items that are most affected by inflation.
Better accuracy in climate action
The Poverty Conference therefore calls for the burden of climate change on low-income households to be offset by means of an income-related eco-bonus. This socially appraised allowance will consist of an ecobonus, a heating subsidy for low-income earners and a child benefit. The aid organization calculates that this could reduce the proportion of households at risk of poverty by about 28 percent.
A study for the Department of Social Affairs also recommends better accuracy for climate policies targeting individuals or households. Climate-related subsidies, advisory services, taxes and levies should be classified by income.
WIFO boss for “inflation proof” measures
WIFO boss Gabriel Felbermayr spoke in the “Krone” on Sunday as a measure against increasing poverty in favor of fixing the value of unemployment benefits and welfare benefits, ie increasing them.
The Greens have been tackling this problem for some time. “In the fight against inflation and the climate crisis, the energy transition is a central building block, because the sun does not send bills,” emphasizes Environment Minister Leonore Gewessler. “Our topic is climate protection. Besides social justice, these two things should not be played off against each other,” said Sigi Maurer, president of the green club.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
