The agreement aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 70% by 2030. From 1 January 2025, HGVs will pay a mileage-based road tax based on their CO2 emissions, with green vehicles paying the lowest tax.
As the plans involve a per-kilometre tax, road transport firms from remote areas are said to be most affected.
Some hauliers have reacted angrily to the plans, and a protest on May 15th could even see blockades take place. The protestors come from a group named the ‘Road Tax Committee’, which has been formed to combat the bill.
According to a local TV station, the group has encouraged truck drivers to inform them about which roads they can block. The blockades will then be registered as legal demonstrations within the required notice period.
A description of the protest reportedly says the demonstration aims to paralyze traffic and shut Denmark down so as to make politicians “wake up”.
One of the hauliers taking part in the action said that while he approved of going green, the tax has to be administered in a fair and realistic way.
The protest action is due to begin at 6am on Monday May 15th and will last several hours. Those behind the protest have nonetheless warned that they will continue to demonstrate until their views are taken into account and the plans are amended.
Photo: Lav Ulv / Flickr / CC BY 2.0 (image used for illustrative purposes only)