Public calls for a carbon tax that protects low-income households

Let’s not patronise people: they can see the benefits of effective carbon pricing, says Hannah Dillon

In polling released this week, we found surprisingly high levels of public support for a carbon tax on big polluters (70%), even when it was made clear this might lead to increased costs of high-carbon goods. 

This support is consistent across regions and age, and the reasons for it are clear.

There is a perception that polluters are not paying their fair share, although 74% would like them to do so, and the public want lower-carbon products to cost less than their high-carbon counterparts (70%).

This is paired with extremely high levels of concern about climate change, and a widespread recognition that we need to get our emissions under control – including those we are responsible for abroad. 

Sixty-seven percent want the Government to introduce new policies to tackle climate change, and 64% believe that a carbon tax on big emitters will effectively drive emissions reductions. Sixty-seven percent believe a carbon tax is a fair way to raise money that could be spent to benefit the country.