On Thursday, CSV MP Claude Wiseler made the scathing claim that Luxembourg is one of the countries performing the worst in terms of CO2 emissions.
Wiseler made the comments during his speech on the national climate and energy plan, distinguishing between proposing ambitious measures and actually making them happen in real terms. He also criticised what he called the "moral lessons" made by Prime Minister Xavier Bettel abroad.
The MP also queried whether a real productive debate could take place in the Chamber of Deputies. After six years of a three-way coalition, the objectives in terms of reducing CO2 emissions, renewable energies, fuel tourism or electric vehicles have clearly not been achieved. In light of this disappointing result, he made it clear he disapproved of the Prime Minister's admonitions to other countries by asking them to make efforts on the climate front.
The opposition MP also questioned where the 40,000 electric vehicles supposed to travel the national roads by next year are located, stating there are currently only 2,100. He underlined the increase in fuel tourism and the absence of charging stations - barely 300 instead of the expected 800.
Wiseler then cited an incentive currently underway in Belgium: the free installation of solar panels on the rooftops. Equipped households will be able to benefit from the electricity thus produced free of charge for ten years and the surplus will be injected into the network by the managing company in order to trigger green certificates.
He proposed support for investments or purchases of ecological services or goods predefined by the State at 30 to 50% by the authorities, similar to existing rules in France. The CSV party expressed support for ambitious objectives but reiterated the necessity of concrete measures to achieve them.
Gilles Roth of the CSV and Marc Goergen of the Pirate Party then underlined the fact that the new car tax has not been announced anywhere and queried if this is in line with the Constitution. Claude Turmes (Déi Gréng), Minister for Energy, replied that the new tax had been tabled in the Chamber of Deputies since Wednesday. This new tax will be valid from 1 March 2020 and will apply to new cars.
Martine Hansen (CSV) went on to dissect the climate plan from the farmers' point of view, saying that the measures do not provide any stability in planning and that agriculture is mainly considered to be responsible for 6.5% of greenhouse gases while it is part of the solution. No additional bio-gas plant has been installed under Bettel's successive governments, but three were closed when four units were to be built each year. According to Hansen, citizens need stability, concrete measures and not "ministers who commission studies to work on a long-term vision". She also suggested that the Minister of Energy calculated the reductions in CO2 emissions using a crystal ball. Hansen went on to deplore the lack of information and explanations concerning the increase in organic farming to 20% in 2025 and 100% in 2050.
According to Fernand Kartheiser (ADR), these green policy have an "eco-populism" flavour, offering simple solutions to serious problems like raising taxes. The MP also criticised the youth protests and the IPCC environmental study, saying Luxembourg's impact should be reconsidered on a global level. The climate plan would also not quantify the financial impact for businesses.
For David Wagner (Déi Lénk) this was "a flat speech with refined terms" and the green economy is a big joke.
Gilles Roth did not appreciate that the opposition was informed at a late date of the excise measures. The discussions on the climate plan should have been launched earlier and not at the end of the year at the same time as the budget. According to the mayor and MP, it is the lower social classes who will suffer the most from the climate plan.
The Pirates were unimpressed by Prime Minister's absence and made their disapproval known by posting a mock "Missing" poster on social networks.
Minister for Energy Claude Turmes responded firmly to the criticisms of the various deputies by stressing that the actions of the government were concrete and numerous. Regarding tourism at the pump or compensation for vulnerable social classes, the minister reiterated that everything had been settled for 2021. The evolution is underway in terms of solar and wind energy without falling into the error of a sectoral plan for the installation of wind turbines as in Wallonia. Turmes was firm but open and quite willing to discuss new ideas in climate policy.
The debate started in the Chamber on Thursday around 2pm and ended at 11pm.
