{"id":50348,"date":"2024-04-02T16:33:37","date_gmt":"2024-04-02T15:33:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.climatechangenews.com\/?p=50348"},"modified":"2024-04-02T17:21:15","modified_gmt":"2024-04-02T16:21:15","slug":"zambias-fossil-fuel-subsidy-cuts-help-climate-and-kids-but-taxi-drivers-suffer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.climatechangenews.com\/2024\/04\/02\/zambias-fossil-fuel-subsidy-cuts-help-climate-and-kids-but-taxi-drivers-suffer\/","title":{"rendered":"Zambia’s fossil-fuel subsidy cuts help climate and kids – but taxi drivers suffer"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Zambian government\u2019s cuts to fossil fuel subsidies may be helping reduce the use of planet-heating oil – but they are causing hardship among groups that rely disproportionately on fossil fuels to make a living, including taxi drivers.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The green policy aims to boost both climate action and the heavily-indebted Zambian economy, but taxi drivers in Lusaka, the southern African country\u2019s capital, told Climate Home they are suffering from rising prices for driving and food.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have been hit hard,\u201d said 29-year old Masuzyo Kampamba, as he motored down a two-lane highway towards past crowds of children celebrating national youth day last month.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Kampamba doesn\u2019t feel able to get married and start a family as he would not be able to provide for them due to the high cost of living.<\/span><\/p>\n

Waiting outside the upmarket East Park Mall, driver Stephen Musanda said he is struggling too.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Filling up his regular Toyota taxi used to cost 17 kwacha ($0.70) a litre – for which he now pays 31 kwacha ($1.30). \u201cIt’s hard for a common driver like me to survive,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Zambian

A Total petrol station near Lusaka’s Central Business District on March 10, 2024 (Photo: Joe Lo)<\/p><\/div>\n

IMF\u2019s global push<\/b><\/h3>\n

In debt-strapped developing countries like Zambia, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is using its financial power to push for the removal of fossil fuel subsidies. <\/span>Similar IMF-backed policies in Haiti<\/a> and Ecuador<\/a> have led to mass protests in the last few years.<\/p>\n

At the Cop28 UN climate summit last December, governments agreed to contribute to a global effort to transition away from fossil fuels “in a just, orderly and equitable manner”. What that means in practice is still being worked out.<\/p>\n

In Zambia and other places like Nigeria, many ordinary citizens feel the shift away from fossil fuel subsidies has not been done fairly so far, with the burden falling on those who cannot afford it. Even supporters of the reforms in Zambia admit they are “painful”.<\/p>\n

On a global level, the IMF argues that subsidies incentivise the use of fossil fuels like oil and gas, making climate change worse, while also being expensive, wasteful and skewed towards helping the rich more than the poor.<\/span><\/p>\n

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My message at today\u2019s @wef<\/a> session on climate and nature: pull back on harmful fossil fuel subsidies and use those resources for climate action. With action, we can leave a heathy planet to our children and grandchildren. #wef24<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/Uh7TcyafHI<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Kristalina Georgieva (@KGeorgieva) January 17, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n