More measures like controversial diesel price increase in France are needed – opinion

The French government’s decision to increase the price of diesel fuel has sparked heavy protests across the entire country, but more such “unreasonable demands” are necessary in France and elsewhere if Europe wants to succeed in drastically reducing its carbon footprint, Kai Schöneberg writes in the Tageszeitung (taz). “We can only wish [French President Emanuel] Macron a lot of stamina in this matter,” Schöneberg says, arguing that politicians in Germany “just bow to industry and the conservative media to avoid a revolt at all costs.” One example is transport minister Andreas Scheuer, who tries to delegitimise a court ruling that imposes the first diesel driving ban on a highway by calling it “out of proportion.” Schöneberg says that in spite of all the talk about sustainability taking a root in society, it is called into question very quickly once it produces actual consequences for people.

Read the commentary in German here.

See the CLEW interview with government advisor Löschel on the crucial question of the energy transition’s acceptance for background.