The Netherlands has supposedly become the first country in Europe to implement a green tax on vehicles.

The new levy will replace annual road tax on cars. Drivers will have to pay per kilometre in an effort to curb carbon emissions and end chronic traffic jams. The system will use GPS to track the mileage of each automobile.

While this may seem like a good idea on paper, it raises more questions than it answers.

Will it really curb motorists’ excesses? Wouldn’t something like improved and affordable transportation links be more effective?

Further, are the Dutch really the first Europeans to introduce an environmentally friendly car tax? London, after all, has had the congestion charge for several years.

Is this move green-washing by the Dutch; in other words, are just making it seem like they’re going green?

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