Who will pay for the green transition?

The green transformation of society is a necessity and a chance for a better, healthier life, but it requires considerable financial resources. However, the financial possibilities of the state are limited. Therefore, the question arises whether we require sufficient financial participation in the costs of the green transformation from those who pollute the environment the most. If we burden people with higher costs, are we doing it fairly according to their ability to manage these expenses? And to what extent does the state have well-set instruments and schemes for compensation and support for “green” investments for those households that cannot afford them themselves? What does the European Citizens’ Initiative “Tax the rich” propose?

The fair or unfair distribution of the costs and benefits of the green transformation was discussed on 24 June 2024 between 17:30 – 19:00 in Košice by the former Minister of Finance of the Slovak Republic and the former Vice President of the Bank for Reconstruction and Development and Secretary General of the UN Economic Commission Brigita Schmögnerová, Member of the National Council of the Slovak Republic Igor Šimko and socio-economic Analyst of the Confederation of Trade Unions of the Slovak Republic and OZ Pracujúca chudoba Ján Košč.

This event was part of a joint project between FEPS, the Progressive Forum (Proforum) and the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) in Bratislava to raise awareness and collect signatures for the “Tax the Rich” ECI in the Slovak Republic.

The panel discussion was in Slovak.

For more information on the event, please do not hesitate to contact Vanessa Zwisele, FEPS Project Officer (vanessa.zwisele@feps-europe.eu).