A-level Critical Thinking

can anyone please explain to me why the answer is not A? (It says the answers it E instead?)

In the first four years of the 21st century the growth in the use of carbon fuels has outstripped growth in the use of renewables. To turn the tide, governments will have to commit larger subsidies to the development of renewable energy and raise taxes on carbon fuels. Few governments seem willing to do either.

Which of these is a conclusion that could be drawn from the above claims?

A An increase in taxes would have the effect of reducing carbon fuel consumption.

B If governments do not act soon to find an alternative source of energy supplies, carbon fuels will begin to run out.

C Taxing carbon fuel is necessary to fund research into renewable energy.

D Subsidies for research and higher taxes to fund them would not be acceptable to the voters.

E Carbon fuel consumption is likely to go on exceeding the use of renewables in the immediate future.

If the government subsidises renewables, that won't mean an instant reduction in the use of fossil fuels. The change from fossil fuels to renewables is a gradual process because most of the infrastructure is built around carbon fuels and needs to be replaced. Carbon fuel consumption won't vanish with the signing of a bill.
The key word here is "immediate" future. Yes, in a few decades, companies would have made the transition to renewables so that they form a majority of energy but that's not immediately after increasing subsidies.
I hope this helps

The only correct conclusion here is to drop A-level critical thinking as it is not accepted for most courses at university.

You have reached the right answer in the wrong way: the immediate future thing isn't strictly relevant to the question OP asked: answer A does not state that there will be an immediate effect, the intended scope might well be decades. the answer is that the extract specifies that the governments need to do two things and answer A only references one of those things.

Thanks for the comment! Its interesting to see how other people approach the question. Do (or did) you take critical thinking as an A level? I didn't but do have to apply this chain of reasoning to my other science subjects.

I have taught it at A Level and as a first year undergraduate module. This sort of question is really just sentential logic, to be honest. I dunno why the practice tests and past papers etc don't have comments explaining the right answers. Job half done, to my mind!