Most Would Pay Higher Energy Bills to Address
Climate Change Says Global Poll

Backgrounder: Country by Country Results

THE AMERICAS

CANADA

Most Canadians believe that in order to address the problem of climate change individuals will need to change their lifestyles and pay more for the types of energy that emit greenhouse gases.  Canada is one of the few countries where a modest majority even favours raising energy taxes to encourage conservation.

• An overwhelming majority (91%) of Canadians believe individuals will need to make changes in their lifestyle to reduce their production of climate changing gases, including 63 percent who say such changes will definitely be necessary.
• Seventy-two percent feel it will be necessary to increase the cost of the types of energy that contribute most to climate change.
• A majority (57%) favours raising taxes on these energy sources to discourage use.
• The majority in favour of higher energy taxes increases to 80 percent if given the condition that the revenues would be devoted to promoting energy efficiency and developing alternative energy sources.
• More than four out of five (81%) favour raising taxes on energy sources that cause climate change if other taxes would be reduced by the same amount so that their total taxes would remain the same.

UNITED STATES

Americans agree with most other publics that in order to address climate change individuals will have to pay more for energy and change their behaviour.  A majority opposes higher energy taxes, however, unless offset by tax reductions or used specifically to promote efficiency or to develop alternative energy sources.

• Most Americans agree (79%) that to reduce the production of climate-changing gases they will need to make changes in their lifestyle.  Nearly half (48%) say changes will definitely be necessary.
• Nearly two-thirds (65%) believe that increasing the cost of energy sources that contribute to climate change will be necessary to encourage conservation.  Only a third (32%) say such increases will not be necessary.
• A slight majority (51%) opposes raising taxes on the types of energy, such as oil and coal, which contribute to climate change.  But 46 percent favour such a tax in order to encourage individuals to use less of these fuels.
• Nearly three out of four (74%) Americans favour higher taxes if the revenues will be used to increase energy efficiency and develop alternative energy sources. A majority (64%) would also support higher taxes if they are offset by other tax cuts.

BRAZIL

Brazilians believe individuals will have to change their lifestyle and pay more for energy in order to address the problem of climate change.  They are reluctant, however, to pay higher energy taxes unless offset by tax cuts or used specifically to promote efficiency or develop new technologies.

• Nine in 10 (89%) Brazilians believe individuals will have to modify their behaviour in order to reduce their production of climate changing gases.  Half of those polled (50%) say they will definitely have to do so.
• Sixty-four percent say the cost of oil, coal and other energy sources that emit greenhouse gases should be increased in order to encourage individuals and industries to use less. 
• A majority of Brazilians (55%) oppose higher energy taxes in order to discourage the use of fuels that cause climate change, such as coal and oil.
• Support for higher energy taxes increases significantly if respondents are told that revenues would go to developing alternate energy forms and increasing efficiency (65%) or if other taxes would decrease proportionately leaving their total tax burden the same (65%).

CHILE

Chileans agree overwhelmingly that individuals will have to pay more for energy and change their behaviour in order to combat the causes of climate change.  Chile also has one of the largest majorities who show unconditional support for imposing higher taxes on energy sources that contribute to climate change, such as oil and coal.

• Nine out of 10 Chileans (90%) agree that individuals will need to change their lifestyles in order to reduce the amount of climate changing gases they produce. Half (49%) say this will definitely be necessary.
• Four out of five (79%)—one of the largest majorities among the 21 countries polled—say that the cost of the fuels that contribute most to climate change will have to increase in order to encourage conservation. 
• A majority (61%) favours higher energy taxes to encourage conservation. Only Chinese respondents show more support for such measures.
• Eighty-one percent would favour higher energy taxes if the revenues were used specifically to increase efficiency or develop new energy sources and 78 percent would support them if such increases were offset by other tax reductions.

MEXICO

Mexicans believe individuals will have to change their behaviour and pay more for energy in order to address the problem of climate change.  They are somewhat divided about energy taxes unless revenues would be used to develop alternative energy sources.

• Mexico has one of the largest majorities (92%) who believe that individuals will need to change their lifestyles in order to reduce their production of climate changing gases.  A majority (64%) says such changes are definitely necessary.
• A majority (61%) believes that it will be necessary to increase the cost of the types of energy that contribute to climate change.
• Half of those polled (50%) would favour increasing taxes on energy sources, such as coal and oil in order to discourage their use, while 46 percent disagree.
• Three in four (74%) would favour higher energy taxes if the revenues were used to increase energy efficiency and develop alternative energy sources.  Two out of three (64%) would favour increasing taxes if offset by tax cuts so that their overall tax level remained the same.

EUROPE

FRANCE

Like most European publics, the French agree that individuals will need to change their lifestyles and pay more for energy to address the causes of climate change.  They support higher energy taxes if they are offset by equivalent tax cuts or if the additional revenues are used to increase efficiency and develop alternative sources of energy.

• Nine out of 10 respondents in France (91%) agree that individuals will need to make changes in their lifestyles to reduce their production of climate changing gases, including 49 percent who say it will definitely be necessary.
• A majority (61%) believes the cost of fuels that contribute to climate change, such as oil and coal, will need to increase in order to discourage their use.
• The French are divided about whether raising taxes on energy sources that contribute to climate change is a good idea: 47 percent favour it, while 48 percent are opposed.
• Support for raising taxes jumps to 79 percent when respondents are given the condition that revenues would go to developing new forms of energy or to increasing efficiency or if other taxes would be adjusted so that their overall tax burden remained the same (79% favour).

GERMANY

Germans believe that addressing the problem of climate change will require an increase in the cost of energy and changes in individual behaviour.  They also favour imposing higher taxes on energy sources that contribute to climate change, especially when told that other taxes would be reduced accordingly or that revenues would be used for programs to increase energy efficiency or develop cleaner sources.

• A very large majority of Germans (87%) believe individuals will have to modify their behaviour in order to reduce their contributions to climate change, though only 36 percent say such changes will definitely be necessary.
• Seven in 10 (70%) also say the cost of fuels that contribute most to climate change, such as oil and coal, will have to increase to encourage conservation.
• Germans are among those most in favour (59%) of raising energy taxes.  Only 38 percent disagree.
• German support for higher energy taxes increases dramatically if given the condition that such increases would be offset by other tax cuts (89%) or that revenues would be used to increase efficiency or to develop alternative sources (79%).

GREAT BRITAIN

Britons are among those most likely to believe that energy costs will need to increase in order to discourage the use of energy sources that contribute to climate change.  A modest majority even favours higher energy taxes for the same purpose.  This majority increases significantly when respondents are told that additional revenues would be used to develop more efficient technologies and promote alternative energy sources or if the increases are offset by other tax reductions.

• Eighty-seven percent of Britons say individuals will need to make lifestyle changes in order to reduce the amount of climate changing gases they produce, including 53 percent who say this will definitely be necessary.
• More than three-fourths (77%)—the largest majority among the European publics polled—agree that the cost of fuels that contribute to climate change, such as oil and gas, will need to increase.
• A modest majority (54%) of Britons favour raising energy taxes, while 42 percent are opposed.
• Seventy-six percent would support higher energy taxes if the revenues went to increasing efficiency or developing energy sources that do not contribute to global warming and 77 percent would favour them if offset by tax cuts in other areas.

ITALY

Italians agree overwhelmingly that individuals will need to change behaviour to address the problem of climate change, but they are among those most reluctant to support higher taxes on energy sources that contribute to climate change unless revenues are used to develop alternative energy sources or are offset by other tax reductions.

• An overwhelming majority (93%) of Italians believe changes in individual lifestyles will be necessary to address the problem of climate change and 62 percent believe they are definitely necessary.
• Half of those polled (50%) say it will not be necessary to increase the cost of the types of energy, such as oil and coal, that contribute most to climate change, though nearly as many (47%) say it will.
• Italy is the country with the largest majority (62%) against increasing taxes on the energy sources that contribute most to climate change.  Only 35 percent favour higher taxes designed to discourage the use of such fuels.
• More than three out of four Italians (78%) favour higher energy taxes if the revenues would be used to increase energy efficiency or develop alternative sources and more than two out of three (69%) favour such increases if they are offset by other tax reductions.

RUSSIA

Most Russians agree that individuals will need to adjust their behaviour to address the problem of climate change, but they tend to disagree that individuals will have to pay more for energy.  They also oppose higher energy taxes except when told that the increases would be offset by other tax cuts or that the revenues would be used to promote efficiency or develop alternative sources.

• More than three in four Russians (76%) say individuals will need to reduce the amount of climate changing gases they produce, though only 27 percent say they will definitely have to do so.
• Russians tend to disagree (50% to 35%) with the idea that it will be necessary to increase the cost of fuels that contribute most to climate change, such as coal and oil.
• Russians are divided about whether imposing higher taxes on energy sources that cause climate change is a good idea: 41 percent favour such measures, while 44 percent are opposed.
• Support for higher taxes grows dramatically if respondents are given the condition that the revenues would be used to increase energy efficiency and develop new sources of energy.  Under these conditions, 72 percent favour higher taxes.
• Three in four Russian respondents (75%) would support higher energy taxes if offset by tax reductions so that their total tax bill remained the same.

SPAIN

The Spanish public is among those most confident that individuals will need to modify their behaviour to address the causes of climate change, though only a modest majority believes that they will have to pay more for energy.  Spaniards are divided about whether taxes should be increased, though, like most publics, they will support tax increases if told that the added revenues would be used to support programs to increase efficiency and develop alternative sources or be offset by other tax reductions.

• More than nine in 10 Spaniards (93%) say that individuals will need to change their lifestyles in order to contribute less to climate change.  Sixty-eight percent—the highest percentage among the 21 publics polled—say this will definitely be necessary.
• Only a modest majority (53%) believes that it will be necessary to increase the cost of the fuels that contribute most to climate change, such as oil and coal.
• Spaniards are divided about imposing higher taxes on the types of energy that contribute to climate change:  49 percent favour this measure, while 47 percent are opposed.
• Support for higher energy taxes rises to 86 percent if respondents are given the condition that the added revenues would be devoted to developing new types of energy or to improving efficiency and to 73 percent if the increases would be offset by other tax cuts.

MIDDLE EAST

EGYPT

Egyptians agree with most other publics that energy costs will need to increase and that individuals will have to modify their lifestyles.  They also support higher taxes on some energy sources as long as overall taxes do not increase or the revenues are used to develop alternative energy sources.

• A large majority of Egyptians (71%) believe individuals will have to change their behaviour to reduce their contribution to climate change, though only 31 percent say they will definitely have to do so.  Relatively large numbers (29%) say individuals will not need to make such changes, however.
• Sixty-one percent say that the cost of the types of energy that contribute most to climate change will have to increase.
• A slender majority of Egyptians (52%) opposes increasing taxes on fuels that produce greenhouse gases in order to encourage consumers and industry to use less, while 48 percent are in favour.
• A robust majority favours higher energy taxes if given the condition that increases would be offset by other tax reductions (82%) or that the revenues would be used to increase energy efficiency and develop technologies that do not contribute to climate change (73%).

TURKEY

The Turkish public is divided about whether energy costs will have to rise and whether taxes should be increased.  But most Turks agree that individuals will need to adjust their lifestyles to reduce their contribution to climate change.

• More than three in four Turks (77%) say that individuals will have to change their behaviour in order to reduce the amount of climate changing gases they produce.  One in five (22%) say they will definitely have to do so.
• Asked whether it will be necessary to increase the cost of the types of energy that contribute most to climate change, Turks are divided:  44 percent say no and 41 percent say yes.
• Turks are equally divided about whether taxes on these energy sources should be raised in order to encourage conservation (42% favour, 43% oppose).
• Support for higher energy taxes increases to 75 percent if respondents are given the condition that the additional revenues would be used to increase energy efficiency and develop new energy sources and to 78 percent under the condition that other taxes would be reduced accordingly.

AFRICA

KENYA

Most Kenyans agree that individuals will need to change their behaviour to address climate change.  A majority also believes the cost of energy will have to increase, though they are divided about raising energy taxes unless offset by other tax cuts or used on energy programs.

• Seven in 10 Kenyans (70%) feel that individuals will need to modify their lifestyles to reduce their production of climate changing gases, including 36 percent who say such changes will definitely be necessary.
• A modest majority (53%) believes that the cost of the types of energy that contribute most to climate change, such as oil and coal, will need to increase in order to discourage use. 
• Kenyans are divided about whether to raise energy taxes:  50 percent favour such increases, 48 percent oppose them.
• Support for higher taxes increases dramatically when respondents are given the condition that revenues would be devoted to programs to increase efficiency or develop cleaner sources (81%) or if the increases would be offset by other tax reductions so that their overall tax burden remained the same (78%).

NIGERIA

A majority of Nigerians believe that addressing climate change will require individuals to change their lifestyles, though a significant number disagree.  A small majority thinks it will not be necessary to increase the cost of fuels that contribute to climate change though the same percentage (52%) would favour higher energy taxes to encourage conservation.  This majority increases when told higher taxes would be used on energy programs or offset by other tax reductions.

• A majority of Nigerians (65%) agree that individuals will need to make changes to their behaviour in order to address the problem of climate change. A relatively large minority (33%) feels that individuals will not need to change their lifestyle, however.
• A slight majority (52%) thinks that it will not be necessary to increase the cost of fuels that contribute to climate change, such as oil and coal, while 47 percent say it will be necessary.
• A modest majority (52%) supports higher energy taxes, though 46 percent are opposed.
• Three out of four Nigerians support higher taxes on fuels that contribute to climate change if given the condition that the revenues would be used to develop alternative energy sources and improve energy efficiency (76%) or that their other taxes would be reduced by the same amount (74%).

ASIA PACIFIC

AUSTRALIA

Australians agree overwhelmingly that individuals will need to modify their lifestyles and pay more for energy in order to address the problem of climate change.  They also show higher support than most other publics for raising energy taxes.

• Nearly nine out of ten Australians (87%) agree that individuals will need to adjust their behaviour to address the problem of climate change, including 55 percent who say such changes will definitely be necessary. 
• More than four in five (81%) Australians—one of the largest majorities among the 21 countries polled—say the cost of energy sources that contribute to climate change will have to go up.
• Australia has one of the largest majorities (61%) in favour of raising taxes on the energy sources that contribute most to climate change, such as oil and coal.  Just 36 percent oppose higher taxes.
• An overwhelming 87 percent support tax increases on energy if given the condition that revenues would go to increasing efficiency and developing new sources of energy that do not cause climate change.
• A large majority (78%) also favours higher energy taxes if accompanied by tax cuts so that their overall tax burden would remain the same.

CHINA

Overwhelming majorities in China believe individuals will have to modify their behaviour and pay more for the types of energy that contribute most to climate change.  The Chinese also show overwhelming support for higher taxes. 

• A very large majority of the Chinese (86%) feel that individuals will need to change their behaviour to reduce their contributions to climate change.
• China has one of the largest majorities (83%) out of the 21 countries polled who believe it will be necessary to increase the cost of fuels, such as oil and coal, that produce climate changing gases. 
• The majority in favour of raising energy taxes is much higher in China than in any other public polled: 85 percent say taxes on the types of energy that contribute to climate change should go up to discourage their use.  Only 13 percent are opposed.
• Support for raising taxes becomes almost unanimous (97%) when respondents are given the condition that the additional revenues would be used to increase energy efficiency and develop alternate sources of energy.  It rises to 93 percent if other taxes would be reduced and overall taxes would remain the same.

INDIA

In India, the percentage believing that individuals will have to change their behaviour is smaller than in the other 21 countries polled.  Indians are divided on the need for higher energy taxes but majorities will support them if told the revenues would be used to promote efficiency or alternative fuels or if they are promised that the increases would be offset by other tax reductions.

• A majority of Indians (61%) believe that individuals will need to modify their lifestyles in order to address the problem of climate change.
• Half of the Indians polled (50%) say that consumers and industry will have to pay more for fuels that cause climate change, such as coal and oil, while 27 percent disagree.
• Asked whether they would favour increasing taxes on these energy sources, Indians are divided:  38 percent approve of higher taxes to discourage the use of such fuels while 36 percent oppose them.
• A majority of Indians (60%) support higher energy taxes if given the condition that the revenues would be used for developing new types of energy or increasing efficiency. An even larger majority (68%) favours higher energy taxes if offset by equal tax reductions.

INDONESIA

Most Indonesians believe that individuals will need to make changes in their behaviour and pay more for energy in order to address the problem of climate change.  Smaller majorities even endorse higher taxes on the energy sources that are most responsible for climate change.

• A very large majority of Indonesians (84%) believe that individuals will need to adjust their lifestyles to reduce their contributions to the problem of climate change, including 46 percent who say this will definitely be necessary.
• Four out of five (83%) say the cost of the types of energy that contribute most to climate change will have to increase. 
• 56 percent favour higher taxes on climate-changing fuels, such as oil and coal, while 36 percent disagree.
• Indonesians overwhelmingly support higher taxes if they would be offset by tax reductions (85%) or if the revenues would go towards programs aimed at developing new fuels or increasing efficiency (79%).

PHILIPPINES

Filipinos are less confident that the cost of energy sources contributing to climate change will need to increase than most other countries.  A majority opposes higher taxes on climate-changing fuels, such as coal and oil, to discourage their use.  But a majority supports such increases when told that the additional revenues would go towards developing new energy sources or that they would be offset by other tax cuts.

• A large majority of Filipinos (87%) thinks individuals will have to modify their behaviour to address the problem of climate change, including 46 percent who say they will definitely have to.
• Filipinos are divided about whether energy costs need to increase to encourage conservation:  49 percent say no, 48 percent say yes.
• A significant majority (58%) opposes higher taxes on energy sources that contribute to climate change, while just 37 percent favour them.
• The Philippine public supports higher energy taxes if the revenues would be used to improve energy efficiency and develop new sources (69%) or if the increases would be offset by reductions in other taxes (66%).

SOUTH KOREA

South Koreans agree that individuals will have to modify their behaviour but they are divided over whether the cost of energy will have to increase to encourage greater conservation.  They also oppose higher taxes on energy sources unless the revenues are used for energy programs or offset by tax reductions. 

• An overwhelming majority (86%) of South Koreans believe that individuals will need to adjust their lifestyles in order to reduce their contributions to climate change, though only 28 percent say such changes will definitely be necessary.
• South Korea is one of few countries evenly divided (49% to 49%) over whether it will be necessary to increase the costs of the types of energy that contribute most to climate change in order to encourage consumers and industry to use less.
• South Koreans are among the publics most opposed to higher energy taxes (59%).
• South Koreans favour tax increases under certain conditions:  if they are used to increase energy efficiency and develop alternative fuels (70%) or if they are offset by equal tax reductions (70%).