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ClimateQuiet 5d · day 7

Rahmstorf: Germany's fuel discount debate ignores deeper car subsidies

Climate scientist Stefan Rahmstorf argues driving is subsidized far beyond any 'Tankrabatt', citing an economist who says no transport mode gets more public support than the car.

newest coverage 4d agosummary written 4d ago2 pieces1.5k likes & upvotes30 comments BlueskyMastodon

What to know

  • Rahmstorf argues drivers cover only about 60% of the true cost of car use, with the public covering roughly 40% via infrastructure and emissions costs not reflected in taxes.
  • He estimates a 50-year driver spends around half a million euros on their car, despite this heavy public subsidy.
  • He proposes a Klimageld (climate money) payout, citing detailed proposals like the Ariadne project, instead of subsidized fuel prices such as the Tankrabatt or commuter tax allowance.
  • The column frames the German fuel-discount debate against Western Europe's hottest recorded summer and severe wildfires.

“Kein Verkehrsmittel wird so stark subventioniert wie das Auto. Die Kosten für Infrastruktur und Folgekosten zum Beispiel durch Emissionen und Flächenverbrauch sind viel höher als die Einnahmen.”

Matthias Runkel, Economist and transport expert · SPIEGEL interview (cited in Rahmstorf column)

Stefan RahmstorfStefan Rahmstorf Climate and ocean scientist, PIK department headMatthias Runkel Economist and transport expert

Rahmstorf: Germany's fuel discount debate ignores deeper car subsidies
spiegel.de

How it unfolded 2 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump posts

Peak 1 piece in two hours at Sep 16, 5 PM; 2 pieces over 7 days (2 posts) Sep 16, 5 PM — 1 piece · 1 post — Bluesky 1Sep 16, 7 PM — quietSep 16, 9 PM — quietSep 16, 11 PM — quietSep 17, 1 AM — quietSep 17, 3 AM — quietSep 17, 5 AM — quietSep 17, 7 AM — quietSep 17, 9 AM — quietSep 17, 11 AM — quietSep 17, 1 PM — quietSep 17, 3 PM — quietSep 17, 5 PM — quietSep 17, 7 PM — quietSep 17, 9 PM — quietSep 17, 11 PM — quietSep 18, 1 AM — quietSep 18, 3 AM — quietSep 18, 5 AM — quietSep 18, 7 AM — quietSep 18, 9 AM — quietSep 18, 11 AM — quietSep 18, 1 PM — quietSep 18, 3 PM — quietSep 18, 5 PM — quietSep 18, 7 PM — quietSep 18, 9 PM — quietSep 18, 11 PM — quietSep 19, 1 AM — quietSep 19, 3 AM — quietSep 19, 5 AM — 1 piece · 1 post — Mastodon 1Sep 19, 7 AM — quietSep 19, 9 AM — quietSep 19, 11 AM — quietSep 19, 1 PM — quietSep 19, 3 PM — quietSep 19, 5 PM — quietSep 19, 7 PM — quietSep 19, 9 PM — quietSep 19, 11 PM — quietSep 20, 1 AM — quietSep 20, 3 AM — quietSep 20, 5 AM — quietSep 20, 7 AM — quietSep 20, 9 AM — quietSep 20, 11 AM — quietSep 20, 1 PM — quietSep 20, 3 PM — quietSep 20, 5 PM — quietSep 20, 7 PM — quietSep 20, 9 PM — quietSep 20, 11 PM — quietSep 21, 1 AM — quietSep 21, 3 AM — quietSep 21, 5 AM — quietSep 21, 7 AM — quietSep 21, 9 AM — quietSep 21, 11 AM — quietSep 21, 1 PM — quietSep 21, 3 PM — quietSep 21, 5 PM — quietSep 21, 7 PM — quietSep 21, 9 PM — quietSep 21, 11 PM — quietSep 22, 1 AM — quietSep 22, 3 AM — quietSep 22, 5 AM — quietSep 22, 7 AM — quietSep 22, 9 AM — quietSep 22, 11 AM — quietSep 22, 1 PM — quietSep 22, 3 PM — quietSep 22, 5 PM — quietSep 22, 7 PM — quietSep 22, 9 PM — quietSep 22, 11 PM — quietYesterday, 1 AM — quietYesterday, 3 AM — quietYesterday, 5 AM — quietYesterday, 7 AM — quietYesterday, 9 AM — quietYesterday, 11 AM — quietYesterday, 1 PM — quietYesterday, 3 PM — quietYesterday, 5 PM — quietYesterday, 7 PM — quietYesterday, 9 PM — quietYesterday, 11 PM — quietToday, 1 AM — quiet 12
Sep 17Sep 18Sep 19Sep 20Sep 21Sep 22yesterdaynow · 2:02 AM ET
  1. 2

    Rahmstorf reiterates the subsidy argument on Mastodon

    Three days after his original post, Rahmstorf reposts the same SPIEGEL column on Mastodon, restating that taxes on driving do not cover the costs it causes.

    “Und ja, Autofahren wird insgesamt subventioniert. Die Steuern decken nicht die verursachten Kosten.”
    — Stefan Rahmstorf
    • rahmstorf@fediscience.org

      Und ja, Autofahren wird insgesamt subventioniert. Die Steuern decken nicht die verursachten Kosten. https://www. spiegel.de/wissenschaft/mensch /tankrabatt-wie-wir-uns-zu-tode-subventionieren-a-0e67ce76-7a69-4315-9608-7e58407b458c?sara_ref=re-so-app-sh

      rahmstorf@fediscience.orgMastodon4d ago2▲view on Mastodon ↗
  2. 2 days quiet
  3. 1

    Rahmstorf argues driving is already heavily subsidized

    In a SPIEGEL column shared on Bluesky, Rahmstorf writes that car owners do not cover about 40% of the true costs of driving, with the public bearing the rest, and cites economist Matthias Runkel that no mode of transport is subsidized as heavily as the car; he calls for a Klimageld (climate money) rebate instead of subsidized fuel.

    “Heißester Sommer in Westeuropa seit Beginn der Aufzeichnungen, verheerende Waldbrände - und die Politik diskutiert, wie man fossile Brennstoffe künstlich billig halten kann, mit unserem Steuergeld. 🤯…”
    — Stefan Rahmstorf
    • rahmstorf.bsky.social

      Heißester Sommer in Westeuropa seit Beginn der Aufzeichnungen, verheerende Waldbrände - und die Politik diskutiert, wie man fossile Brennstoffe künstlich billig halten kann, mit unserem Steuergeld. 🤯

      rahmstorf.bsky.socialBluesky7d ago1.5k▲view on Bluesky ↗
  4. background

    Germany debates a fuel-price discount amid record heat and wildfires — German politics is engaged in a heated discussion over the so-called Tankrabatt (fuel discount) even as Western Europe records its hottest summer since measurements began, accompanied by severe wildfires.

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