The Zero association defended this Sunday, March 8, that Portugal is excessively exposed to the volatility of international oil markets and insisted on the reinforcement and electrification of public transport to curb the consumption and consequences of fossil fuels.
“This dependence has direct effects on inflation, the cost of living and the competitiveness of the economy”, warned the association, in a statement, contextualizing the position with the rise in fuel prices due to the conflict in the Middle East, worsened by the war in Iran.
For Zero – Associação Sistema Terrestre Sustentável, the country must “overcome delays in public transport infrastructure and vehicle charging”.
The association also proposes the progressive allocation of the Tax on Petroleum Products (ISP) to support “more sustainable” mobility.
According to the organization, in 2023, the transport sector represented around 34% of national greenhouse gas emissions and continues to depend “almost entirely” on imported fossil fuels.
“Portugal imports all the oil it consumes, with diesel being the main fuel used in the road transport of goods and passengers. Whenever the international price of oil rises, the impacts spread quickly throughout the economy, increasing the costs of transporting goods and services and putting pressure on inflation”, says the statement.
For Zero, The best solution to face these situations is not a temporary reduction in taxes, but “the structural reduction of dependence on oil”through the electrification of vehicles, especially those with intensive use, and the reinforcement of public transport.
“It is unacceptable that there are no serious plans to improve the supply on CP and Fertagus lines in the Metropolitan Areas“, he criticized, also defending measures to electrify light and heavy goods vehicles, taxis, TVDE, business fleets and shared-use bicycles.
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