Named Green Budget Europe (GBE), the new organisation will be headed by James Nix, formerly director of Irish NGO An Taisce whilst founding members include Green Budget Germany (GBG), the European Environmental Bureau (EEB), Transport & Environment (T&E), The Finnish Association for Nature Conservation (FANC), and the Clean Air Action Group (Hungary).

The organisation said it will be ‘working towards an environmental fiscal reform in Europe including the shift of taxation away from labour and other “goods” to “bads” like energy and resource consumption, but also the systematic alignment of public spending with sustainability goals, especially the abolishment of environmentally harmful subsidies.’

GBE has existed as project run via the German think tank Green Budget Germany since 2008. Its establishment as an independent organisation now marks the reinforcement of its efforts to help overcome the environmental, social and economic crises in Europe.

‘The establishment of GBE comes at a crucial time, as Europe is searching a way out of its multiple economic, fiscal and environmental crises. A strategy to shift taxes away from labour towards pollution and resource consumption is essential to boost innovation, create jobs and help Europe prosper,’ said Mr Nix.