Most Would Pay Higher Energy Bills to Address
Climate Change Says Global Poll WASHINGTON, Nov 04, 2007 /PRNewswire-USNewswire
Most people say they are ready to make personal sacrifices - including
paying more for their energy - to help address climate change, according to
a new BBC World Service poll of 22,000 people in 21 countries.
Substantial majorities in all countries polled (83% overall) say it will be
necessary for people in their country to "make changes in their lifestyle
and behaviour" to reduce the emission of climate-changing gases.
In 14 of the 21 countries, a majority (61% on average overall) say it will
be necessary to increase energy costs to encourage conservation and reduce
carbon emissions.
Support for increased energy taxes is conditional. Asked if they would
support higher taxes on types of energy - such as oil and coal - that cause
most carbon emissions, only half (50% overall) approve. But this rises to
three out of four (77% overall) if the tax raised was specifically devoted
to promoting energy efficiency or developing cleaner fuels. Such a tax
receives majority support in all 21 countries polled.
These results hold true in the US and China, the two countries that emit the
largest amounts of carbon dioxide. Urban Chinese are among those most ready
to change their lifestyle (86%), to see the cost of energy go up (83%) and
to pay higher taxes on coal and oil (85%).
Director of PIPA, Steven Kull said, "People around the world recognize that
climate change requires that people change their behaviour. And that to
provide incentives for those changes there will need to be an increase in
the cost of energy that contributes to climate change."
GlobeScan President, Doug Miller said, "While few citizens welcome higher
taxes, the poll suggests that national leaders could succeed in introducing
a carbon tax on energy. The key requirement is that their citizens trust
that the resulting tax revenues will be invested in addressing climate
change by increasing energy efficiency and developing cleaner fuels."
The survey was conducted for BBC World Service by the international polling
firm GlobeScan together with the Program on International Policy Attitudes (PIPA)
between 29 May and 26 July, 2007. Questionnaire, findings and methods are
available at
www.WorldPublicOpinion.org .
SOURCE Program on International Policy Attitudes
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