Carbon levy

The CO₂ tax is an economic instrument in the fight against climate change. It is calculated on the amount of CO₂ released when using fossil fuels such as coal, oil or gas. The aim is to make climate-damaging behavior more expensive and make climate-friendly alternatives more economically attractive. The income from the CO₂ tax can be used for various purposes, such as:

• Funding climate protection projects: investments in renewable energy or sustainable infrastructure.
• Relief for households: Reimbursement in the form of climate dividends to alleviate social hardship.
• Research and development: Supporting innovations for decarbonization.

Examples of CO₂ taxes worldwide include the CO₂ tax in Switzerland and Sweden or the EU emissions trading scheme (EU ETS), which provides for a lower price limit for CO₂.

The amount of the tax varies greatly and directly influences the operating costs of companies that use fossil fuels. Companies with high energy consumption, particularly in industry, are particularly affected by the CO₂ tax. At the same time, it provides incentives to invest in energy efficiency and low-emission technologies.

Manufacturing companies face economic and regulatory challenges as a result of the CO₂ tax. In particular, energy-intensive industries such as mechanical engineering, chemicals and metal processing must reduce their emissions in order to avoid rising costs due to the tax.