The episode “315 Economy” discussed with the captain and former president of the Syndicate of Certified Accountants, Afif Sharara, the backgrounds of the Lebanese government’s approval of new fees on fuel under the name “environmental fees.” This is a step that has raised widespread questions about its true goals, and whether it forms part of a sustainable environmental policy, or is merely a means to boost treasury revenues in light of the ongoing financial crisis.
The episode examined the extent of its impact on fuel prices and the cost of transportation and production if approved later, and its repercussions on citizens’ livelihoods and purchasing power, in addition to its impact on inflation rates and productive sectors. It also focused on the concept of tax justice, and the feasibility of imposing indirect fees that affect all citizens, in exchange for the need for broader financial and structural reforms, and combating tax evasion and waste in the public sector.
The episode tried to answer the following question: Does the environmental drawing constitute an actual step towards protecting the environment and encouraging the transition to clean energy, or does it bear an environmental name while its primary goal remains financial? What alternatives could the state have adopted to secure revenues without placing additional burdens on citizens?
