El ‘greenwashing’ tributario de Petro

El ‘greenwashing’ tributario de Petro

The article criticizes the rhetorical use of concepts such as “clean energy” and “decarbonization” to justify significant increases in taxes on fossil fuels in Colombia. Although the government presents these fiscal measures as a necessary step toward environmental sustainability, the analysis reveals that this green rhetoric masks an adverse economic impact. The implementation of higher levies, planned for the coming years, will increase production and transportation costs, imposing a disproportionate burden on the general population rather than fostering a genuine technological transition. This tax increase has serious social consequences, primarily affecting households in poverty. Since these sectors heavily rely on transportation to access basic goods, the rising prices of gasoline and diesel directly translate into inflation in the basic consumption basket and greater economic vulnerability. The critique centers on the fact that current policy ignores the reality that low-income families, who depend on motorcycles for mobility and livelihood, lack viable immediate alternatives, thereby making the energy transition an inaccessible luxury for those who need it most. The text’s relevance to the debate on greenwashing lies in its exposure of how ecological discourse is used to cover up decisions that harm the most vulnerable without an adequate redistributive strategy. The author argues that the government’s “green flag” constitutes a case of political greenwashing, as it confuses the public and justifies punitive measures that, far from being progressive, erode social stability. The conclusion emphasizes that true decarbonization requires concrete actions, infrastructure, and support for affected sectors, not merely well-crafted rhetoric designed to legitimize tax increases.