INTERVIEW
According to a report by the Council of compulsory levies, attached to the Court of Auditors, and published Wednesday, France will not hold its climate goals without a rise in the carbon tax. However, it is this same particularly sensitive topic of ecological taxation that served as a trigger in 2018 to the crisis of "yellow vests". Enough to invite the government to be very careful.
"The carbon tax, we failed to explain and convince in the previous period", has admitted, at the microphone of the Grand Rendezvous on Europe 1, Emmanuelle Wargon, Secretary of State to the Minister of Ecological transition and solidarity. "That's why we stopped its increase in 2019 and 2020. If we want to resume, we must start with a citizen debate."
A debate that could open soon with the Citizen Convention on climate, announced by Emmanuel Macron at the end of the great national debate. "The 150 people drawn, who will start work in early October, will address this issue," says Emmanuelle Wargon. "We'll see what these people, who are not specialists, tell us."
In addition, the council of compulsory levies has identified 19 unfavorable tax benefits for the environment and benefits certain professions. "For the first time, this year, we increased the tax on non-road diesel by 2 cents per liter, and then we created an eco-contribution on air tickets," opposes Emmanuelle Wargon. Nevertheless, tax exemptions granted to certain sectors could be maintained for a while. "It is done slowly, it must accompany professions which it was in their economic model. [But], gradually, it will be necessary that this model changes," concludes the Secretary of State.