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Roofs with solar systems: Citizens would rather have subsidies than taxes
Photo: Uli Deck / dpa
Climate protection, yes, but please not at my expense – this is how the results of an Ifo survey in Germany can be summarized. 55 percent are in favor of Germany taking a pioneering role in climate protection, according to a survey published on Wednesday by the Ifo Institute and the Nuremberg Institute for Market Decisions (NIM). 33 percent therefore reject a pioneering role. Twelve percent do not want to commit.
However, a CO₂ price for climate protection, which many economists see as the best instrument, receives little support. Only eight percent support a higher price for CO₂ emissions.
When asked what should be done to become climate neutral by 2045, 28 percent are in favor of subsidies for climate-friendly measures - such as promoting electric cars. 16 percent each are in favor of requirements such as minimum standards for house construction and bans on climate-damaging measures, such as the ban on gas heating. However, around a quarter of those surveyed also stated that they were unable to answer the question about suitable climate protection measures.
Results allow conclusions to be drawn about a reform backlog
"Our results show that the opinion of the population in Germany differs significantly from the recommendations of economists," said Sarah Necker, head of the Ludwig Erhard Ifo Center in Fürth. "The majority of the latter are in favor of CO₂ prices, for example in emissions trading." According to NIM researcher Michael Zürn, the numbers also reflect the disagreement that seems to prevail within society with regard to concrete environmental policy measures. “The strong differences could be a reason for the reform backlog that is currently being observed,” said Zürn.
The survey is based on a representative sample of people aged 18 to 74 in the Federal Republic. It was created in September last year.
mmq/Reuters