Increase in Commuter Allowance: The Old Reflexes

Unfortunately, it has to be said: The new government is continuing where the old one left off. The pattern: Whenever things start to become difficult, the traffic light turns yellow, then red, but not green. In other words, they take the path of least resistance. In light of rising fuel and energy prices, the federal government, at the urging of the FDP and SPD, has retroactively increased the long-distance commuter allowance by three cents to 38 cents per kilometer, effective from the 21st kilometer as of January 1. This increase was originally planned by the previous government for 2024 to compensate for the rising CO2 price on fuel. The old reflexes, one might say.

The old patterns repeat themselves

Ultimately, this is not surprising, because when it comes to climate protection, even the SPD as a coalition partner in the black-red alliance was certainly not a driver – or can only be considered "progressive" in relation to the braking Union, despite the earnest efforts of former Environment Minister Svenja Schulze. Now the Union is replaced by an FDP that is at best verbally open to climate protection but apparently successfully and resolutely torpedoes all the efforts of the Greens whenever things get concrete.

In general, parts of the government still give the impression that there is a choice regarding the measures. That is not the case. The complete toolbox is needed to achieve the transport transition and mitigate the climate crisis, from speed limits and reduction of subsidies (immediately) to car and city tolls and emissions trading (soon). “We don't want that” is not an option. “We must” on the other hand, is. And that "MUST" must also be explained.

The next disappointment

Following the rejection of a more ambitious position on fleet targets in the EU by FDP Transport Minister Wissing and with the approval of Chancellor Scholz, and the temporary extension of the dubious and evidently also misused electric car subsidy with a focus on mid-range cars and PHEVs, this is the next disappointment for all those who have been expecting serious action from the traffic light coalition to achieve climate goals. At least from 2023, it is supposed to be different with a planned new regulation of the subsidy – and the proof of a "positive climate protection contribution" will be mandatory.

We also urgently need a building transition!

Even when it comes to building, "quantity over quality" is the approach, and the SPD is pushing its focus through, although we have long needed a building transition as well. Away from the glamorization of single-family homes in the green, which unfortunately require a car, or the chic but CO2-intensive new buildings (cement production!), towards climate-friendly preservation, insulation, and renovation.

Of course, the energy crisis is acute, prices are rising, and the current government is feeling the energy policy naivety and energy transition blockade of the previous government. But when will they actually start putting all projects, as announced, under the climate reservation of the new Climate and Economic Affairs Minister Habeck? Yes, it could have been worse – and the Greens have probably at least prevented the short-distance allowance from being significantly increased. But it really has to get "better" at some point.

"Mid-term," as the Greens say, is no longer sufficient. And the widely announced climate money could have provided socially just compensation. The concepts for this should have long been on the table. Now they are trying to calm things down again with the well-known means. Ignoring the fact that the commuter allowance "broadly speaking" favors high earners who can afford to drive a car and not the much-cited nurse for whom city living (another failure of the black-red alliance) is, unfortunately, too expensive.

In view of the escalation in Ukraine, the oil price will not stabilize quickly. And we are continuing to lose time in the fight that should actually concern all the warlike potentates of this world the most, instead of the insane fights against their own neighbors and over territories: the fight against the climate crisis. We are in the 21st century, not the 19th. The challenge lies elsewhere. Why is that so difficult to convey?