A new study from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research reveals strong global support for comprehensive climate policies, suggesting that international cooperation on carbon pricing and wealth redistribution could accelerate climate action.
Even though climate change discussions may not dominate every political agenda, substantial measures to counteract global warming enjoy robust public backing globally. A recent study, co-authored by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and published in the journal Nature Human Behaviour, takes an in-depth look at the acceptance of international climate policies.
The researchers initiated surveys worldwide, revealing significant genuine support for key climate strategies, such as international carbon pricing and redistribution of revenues to less affluent countries.
“This study is not about current sentiment, but about deep-seated attitudes,” co-author Linus Mattauch, head of PIK’s Societal Transition and Well-Being research group, said in a news release. “That’s why we test the robustness of questionnaire responses by a wide variety of methods — in other words, we check whether they will hold up over time. We were pleasantly surprised by the results. Politicians should not be too afraid of citizens when pushing ahead with global climate protection.”
Global Support for Carbon Pricing
The study’s encouraging findings are grounded in two thorough, representative surveys conducted in 2021 and 2023.
The first surveyed approximately 41,000 people across 20 countries responsible for nearly 75% of global carbon emissions.
The second focused on 8,000 individuals in the United States and the EU.
Support for climate policies at the global level was strikingly high, ranging from 70% in the United States to 94% in Japan.
There was also strong endorsement for an ambitious global carbon pricing strategy that aligns with the 2-degree Celsius limit and incorporates a per capita redistribution of emission rights among nations.
Testing Genuine Commitment
In addition to standard questionnaire techniques, the research utilized innovative methods such as list experiments and conjoint analyses to ensure the authenticity of responses.
By embedding the carbon pricing proposal among other ideas or breaking down the policy into constituent parts, the researchers validated that support was not merely socially desirable but represented genuine convictions.
A detailed questionnaire in the US-EU survey, which included specific figures like $90 per tonne of CO₂ by 2030 and $30 per month reimbursement for every adult worldwide, gleaned strong support despite respondents knowing their own countries might incur financial losses. Three-quarters of EU respondents and more than half of U.S. respondents approved of this plan.
Implications for Global Climate Policy
The reference point of the study — global carbon pricing with redistribution — is seen as an ultimate goal.
Realistically, current efforts focus on forming “climate clubs” involving several countries or striking climate agreements (“Just Energy Transition Partnerships”) between industrialized countries and individual Global South nations. Public acceptance remains crucial for these initiatives.
The researchers are confident that people in wealthy countries are willing to pay for climate protection in poorer nations.
“Against this backdrop, the question is why the international community is not making faster progress,” added lead author Adrien Fabre from the French research centre CIRED. “How misunderstandings and misperceptions arise in public discourse, and what role interest groups play is yet unclear. Perhaps the boundaries of what is considered realistic are shifting. Our work could contribute to this.”
Looking Forward
This research highlights a promising foundation of public support for more ambitious global climate policies. As policymakers consider future action, the insights from this study underscore that widespread public backing could pave the way for more robust international cooperation in tackling climate change.