89% of Spaniards support oil, gas, and coal companies paying for climate damage.

89% of Spaniards, almost 9 out of 10, support taxing oil, gas, and coal companies to cover damage caused by climate change-related disasters, such as storms, floods, droughts, and forest fires, according to a report by Greenpeace and Oxfam International.

Globally, 81% of the population supports governments taxing fossil fuel companies for losses and damages caused by climate change, which they consider the main responsible for the greenhouse gas emissions associated with their activities, according to the survey, which reveals a high level of consensus across age groups, political affiliations and income levels .

The report is based on survey results conducted by data firm Dynata in Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Kenya, Italy, India, Mexico, the Philippines, South Africa, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States, with approximately 1,200 respondents in each country (15,600 total).

The influence on politics

Together, these countries represent nearly half of the world's population, the report notes, revealing that a large majority of the population also believes that governments are not doing enough to counter the political influence of the biggest polluters and billionaires .

The study was presented during the Bonn negotiations, a prelude to the UN's annual climate summit, which will be held this year in Belém, Brazil (COP30), and is expected to specify how to achieve the COP29 agreement: increasing public and private climate finance for developing countries to $1.3 trillion annually by 2035.

Specifically, Brazil's population is the most in favor of imposing a new tax on fossil fuel companies, with 91% of respondents supporting it. They are followed by Spain (89%), Italy (87%), Kenya (85%), the Philippines (84%), France (83%), and Mexico (82%).

Below the global average are India and South Africa (80%), the United Kingdom (79%), Canada and the United States (75%) and Germany (68%), according to the report, which recalls that, according to science, climate change is due to emissions generated primarily by the burning of fossil fuels.

PP and VOX supporters, mostly in favor

By age group, in Spain, 87% of young people between 18 and 34 support the creation of these taxes, a figure that rises to 89% among those between 35 and 54 and 91% among those over 55. By gender, 90% of women are in favor, and 88% of men.

Regarding political affiliations, 95% of PSOE supporters support imposing taxes on fossil fuel companies. For the PP, support is 89%, for VOX, 76%, and for other parties, 91%.

Regarding income level, there are no differences; both those surveyed with incomes above the average and those with incomes below it support these taxes by 89%.

Among those interviewed in Spain, 88% support using the revenue generated by these new taxes on the fossil fuel industry to compensate the communities most affected by the climate crisis, and 81% believe the government should invest more in supporting these populations.

67% believe that the most polluting companies and large fortunes have a negative influence on politics in Spain, and 72% say the government is not doing enough to limit the power of fossil fuel companies.

A profit motive that destroys lives

"Fossil fuel companies have known for decades the harm their polluting products cause to humanity (...) Their profit motive is destroying the lives and livelihoods of millions of women, men, and children, particularly in the Global South, who have contributed least to the climate crisis," denounced Oxfam International's executive director, Amitabh Behar.

Governments must listen to their people and hold polluters accountable for the damage they cause, according to Behar, who has argued that a new tax on these companies could provide immediate and significant support to climate-vulnerable countries and boost investment in renewable energy and a just transition.

"The data sends a clear message: people no longer believe the lies of the fossil fuel industry. They see their guilt behind the storms, floods, droughts, and fires that destroy their lives, like the tragic disaster in Valencia, and they want these companies to take responsibility," said Mads Christensen, Executive Director of Greenpeace.

In Europe alone, the tax on windfall profits achieved by energy companies in a context of high energy prices raised around €26 billion between 2022 and 2023, noted Pedro Zorrilla Miras, head of Climate Change at Greenpeace Spain, who lamented that "there is money, what is needed is political will."

"Pressure from energy companies succeeded in eliminating this tax. We're talking about companies with obscene profits, like Repsol, which earned €1.756 billion in 2024, the same year in which more than 300,000 people saw their lives devastated by flooding," the environmentalist asserted.

Polluters Payment Pact

Along with the survey results, the Polluters Pay Pact was also presented, which seeks to encourage "polluters to pay."

This global alliance is supported by groups affected by climate disasters, including emergency service workers, firefighters, unions, and worker groups; mayors from Australia, Brazil, Bangladesh, India, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Nigeria, South Africa, and the United States; plaintiffs in landmark climate lawsuits, from Pacific island states to Switzerland; and more than 60 NGOs.

The initiative will develop actions in countries around the world and will be presented at key international forums, such as the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development, which will take place in Seville from June 30 to July 3, and COP30. EFEverde

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