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Eighty per cent of Indians believe that oil, gas and coal corporations should be taxed for causing environmental damages like floods, droughts, wildfires and health impacts, according to a new survey commissioned by Greenpeace and Oxfam and released at the ongoing Bonn Climate Conference 2025.
Over 50 per cent Indians reported oil and gas companies should pay taxes for damages attributed to them. Another 23 per cent reported that taxes should be paid by businesses, 13 per reported that it should be levied on goods that people buy and 10 per cent said that working people should also pay up.
Further, a majority (43 per cent) reported that owners, shareholders, investors, and executives should be primarily responsible for paying taxes related to fossil fuels. Another 32 per cent believe that consumers like SUV owners and wealthier airline passengers who fly frequently, business or first class and 23 per cent said all consumers should pay. Only 2 per cent said no taxes should be levied on fossil fuels.
Also, 43 per cent and 44 per cent Indians “strongly support” and “support” increasing taxes on fossil fuels and directing that money to support communities on the frontlines of climate change, respectively. In contrast, only 13 per cent “oppose” and “strongly oppose” such measures.
The survey also found that 85 per cent of the respondents “strongly support” and “support” governments closing loopholes that allow rich people and international corporations to use tax haven and use increased revenue from increased tax income.
However, respondents were divided about whether super-rich and polluting fossil fuel industries influence politics in India, with 48 per cent believing they have a bad influence and 52 per cent reporting good influence. To a question on whether they would be willing to back a candidate prioritising taxing the rich and super polluting companies, 77 per cent responded in the affirmative.
Greenpeace surveyed 1,200 people in India, and in each of the 12 countries — Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Kenya, Mexico, Philippines, South Africa, Spain, United Kingdom, and the United States.
Like India, large majorities (81 per cent) in other countries support taxing oil, gas and coal companies for the environmental damages they cause. Most people also believe the government should be spending more to support communities most affected by climate change.
However, unlike India, most believe that governments are doing too little to curb the power of fossil fuel companies and the super-rich.
Also, unlike India, a clear majority (68 per cent) of respondents in all countries surveyed reported that super-rich and polluting corporations have a bad influence on politics.
Similarly, a majority (64 per cent) of respondents in all countries reported that their government was doing too little to counter influence of the super-rich and polluting corporations’ influence on politics, compared to 34 per cent of people who participated in the survey. When the question was asked to people with different political leanings, only 28 per cent of Bharatiya Janata Party supporters believed that the government was doing too little, compared to 44 per cent of Indian national Congress supporters holding the same view.
“These survey results send a clear message: people are no longer buying the lies. They see the fingerprints of fossil fuel giants all over the storms, floods, droughts, and wildfires devastating their lives, and they want accountability,” Mads Christensen, executive director of Greenpeace International said in a statement.
“Governments must listen to their people and hold polluters responsible for their damages. A new tax on polluting industries could provide immediate and significant support to climate-vulnerable countries and finally incentivise investment in renewables and a just transition,” Amitabh Behar, executive director of Oxfam International, said in a statement.