Oil and gas companies that profit from large amounts of emissions should bear the most responsibility for the effects of climate change, a new study has found.
Oil and gas companies that profit from large amounts of emissions should bear the most responsibility for the effects of climate change, a new study has found.
The research was commissioned by Greenpeace International's Stop Drilling Start Paying campaign and conducted by strategic insights agency Opinium Research.
We conducted an online survey of 8,000 adults in Australia, Argentina, France, Morocco, the Philippines, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States, a nationally representative sample based on age, gender, and region.
When asked who should be most responsible for the effects of climate change, the survey found that the most popular option in all eight countries was to put the burden on oil and gas companies, with high emitters and the world's It was revealed that Elite was ranked 2nd and 3rd.
“This study shows how taxing the wealthy, the main polluters – companies such as Exxon, Chevron, Shell, Total, Equinor and Eni – is a mainstream solution among people across borders and income levels. ” said co-director Abdullahi Diallo. said in a statement about Greenpeace International's “Stop Drilling Start Paying” campaign.
As governments debate how to finance the fight against climate change, they argue that not only is it fairer to make polluters pay for the costs, but also that they should burden ordinary people with a crisis for which there is little or no responsibility. “I'm sure it's much more common and effective than forcing,” Diallo said.
60% of those surveyed saw a link between oil and gas industry profits and rising energy prices.
According to Greenpeace International, imposing a fair climate damage tax on fossil fuel extraction by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development would
This is an example of a tax on big polluters. Based on a low initial rate of $5 per tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e), this could generate $900 billion by 2030, increasing by $5 per tonne each year thereafter.
“This will reduce climate-related annual loss and damage costs, estimated to be between $290 billion and $580 billion by 2030 in low-income countries, as well as heat-trapping greenhouse gas emissions and the impact of climate change. “The climate crisis is occurring in all countries.”
Opinium's survey found that 73% of respondents were upset that oil and gas company chief executives “take home huge bonuses even though their business decisions are worsening climate change.” It turned out that it was.
Also, 71% expressed discomfort about the health risks and impacts of pollution caused by oil and gas companies and new oil and gas fields, despite evidence that this is exacerbating climate change.
67% of respondents cited disinformation about climate change and continued lobbying and influence of politicians and politicians by oil and gas companies to slow climate action as a problem.
34% agreed that governments are not responsible for the environmental damage caused by oil and gas companies, and 33% agreed that these companies continue to contribute to climate change and biodiversity loss.
And 62% of respondents (66% in South Africa) agreed that inflation and the rising cost of living were the most important issues facing their country.
32% cited environmental disasters such as droughts, fires and storms. Wealth inequality (27%). pollution of water resources with toxic substances and plastics (22%); and food security (20%).
“While the cost of living crisis has overshadowed environmental issues, there remain widespread concerns about climate change,” Opinium said in its report. “The Philippines is the most alarmed because it has a high level of personal experience with the effects of climate change and is concerned about the impact on future generations.”
Respondents in developed countries were less concerned, but this is “associated with the perception that it does not affect individuals.”
The survey found that 80% of respondents are concerned about climate change affecting them and future generations.
58% of South Africans surveyed said they were “alarmed” about climate change, as did 73% of respondents in the Philippines.
The study found a wide gap between countries in the Global North and South in terms of their exposure to the climate crisis.
Those surveyed in the Global North were twice as likely to have no personal experience with extreme weather events (43% and 19%, respectively) than those surveyed in the Global South.
The United States and Australia were least concerned about climate change. However, they expected climate change to have a negative impact on future generations (68% and 75%, respectively)
Meanwhile, the Philippines and South Africa expressed high concern about personal victimization (90% and 83%, respectively). 90% of South Africans and 94% of Filipino respondents surveyed expected climate change to have a negative impact on future generations.
South Africans are witnessing extreme weather events occurring 'every year' and are beginning to understand how this is impacting them, says Greenpeace International's 'Stop Payments to Start Drilling'. said Tandil Chinyawanghu, a global activist.
Chinyawanghu believed that the disparity between countries in the Global North and South lies in the level of urbanization, each country's rate of adaptation, and its resilience to extreme weather events.
He called for stronger tax mechanisms around the world to “ensure that even in the face of these extreme events, a significant amount of the loss and damage is channeled to the Global South.” He said it needs to be introduced on a large scale.
The survey found that financial incentives and disincentives were most popular, especially in developing countries.
To help oil and gas companies address the impacts of climate change, South Africa (45%), the Philippines (47%) and Argentina (48%) are looking to provide financial incentives for oil and gas companies to transition to renewable energy. He supported the government he was creating.
Regarding perceptions of oil and gas companies, Opinium found that despite believing in the link between emissions and climate change, increasing profits and rising energy prices, consumers have a “surprisingly low opinion of oil and gas companies. ''He said that he has a high level of trust in him.
