Verursachergerecht

Verursachergerecht is a German term used in policy and law to describe the allocation of costs or burdens in a way that corresponds to the actor who caused the problem or risk. The word combines Verursacher (causer, the one who causes harm or pollution) with gerecht (fair, just). In practice, verursachergerecht approaches aim to ensure that those responsible for damage or risk bear the financial consequences, aligning with the Verursacherprinzip, commonly referred to as the polluter pays principle.

In environmental policy, verursachergerecht financing means funding pollution control measures through charges or taxes paid by polluters, rather than through general taxation. In waste management and product design, fees may be levied based on the amount of waste generated or the emissions footprint of a product. In transport policy, fees, tolls, and vehicle taxes are used to reflect actual usage or emissions. In industry and liability contexts, the concept guides cost allocation in the event of damages or environmental cleanup.

Critics point to practical challenges: accurately attributing causation in complex systems can be difficult, and the approach can shift costs onto smaller actors or consumers even when collective action is needed. Administrative complexity and the risk of perverse incentives are also cited.

Verursachergerecht is widely used in German-speaking policy debates and is closely related to the Verursacherprinzip and discussions of fairness in cost allocation and environmental policy.