Most Germans willing to pay more to fight climate change – survey

Most Germans are willing to pay higher prices and taxes to fight climate change, the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung (FAS) reports citing the “Responsibility Barometer Germany 2021” published by investment company Fidelity. Three out of four German citizens would accept higher consumer prices if politics committed companies to sustainable supply chains, the survey found. Of the 3,062 citizens surveyed, 64 percent said they would accept significantly higher taxes, for example on petrol, if they served to reduce CO2 emissions. Fifty-seven percent consider the reduction of CO2 emissions the most important political goal, and more than half (53%) say the preservation of biodiversity should be a political priority. "Germans take responsibility and want to make progress on climate action, our survey clearly shows that," said Alexander Leisten, country head Germany of Fidelity. However, when it comes to acting themselves, Germans seem less dedicated. Only 30 percent of respondents say commitment to the environment is one of their most important personal goals.

The survey was conducted in autumn last year, weeks before the CO2 price in the transport and building sector was introduced in Germany on 1 January 2021. According to calculations published by the economic research institute RWI Essen, the prices for petrol and diesel can be expected to increase by around eight cents per litre due to the introduction of the carbon price. Refuelling and heating are likely to become even more expensive in the future, as the price per tonne of CO2 is set to rise from the current 25 euros to 55 euros in 2025.