July 20, 2006

Abstract: - Many adults in Britain believe the owners of bigger cars should pay more taxes, according to a poll by YouGov published in The Economist. 75 per cent of respondents believe the idea would help deal with the issue of climate change.

- Many adults in Britain believe the owners of bigger cars should pay more taxes, according to a poll by YouGov published in The Economist. 75 per cent of respondents believe the idea would help deal with the issue of climate change.

In addition, 45 per cent would be willing to increase airfares by making airlines pay tax on the fuel they use, 40 per cent would build more nuclear power stations, and 27 per cent would increase fuel taxes.

The term global warming refers to an increase of the Earth's average temperature. Some theories say that climate change might be the result of human-generated carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.

In 1998, several countries agreed to the Kyoto Protocol, a proposed amendment to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The agreement commits nations to reduce their emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. As a member of the European Union (EU), Britain ratified the protocol in May 2002.

Drivers in Britain pay a yearly Vehicle Excise Duty (VED)—also known as the road tax—which ranges from $95 U.S. to $290 U.S. per car. Vehicles registered before March 2001 are charged in accordance to their engine capacity, while cars registered after that date pay a fee in accordance with their carbon dioxide emission.

In March, current chancellor of the exchequer Gordon Brown—who is expected to become prime minister once Tony Blair resigns—suggested the introduction of zero rate for the least polluting vehicles. In order to qualify for this special status, a new vehicle must achieve a rating lower than 100 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre travelled.

Polling Data

Here are some measures that have been proposed to help deal with the issue of climate change. In each case, please say whether you support or oppose it.

	Support	Oppose	Not sure
Increasing the taxes on cars with large engines	75%	18%	6%
Increasing airfares, for example by making the world's airlines pay tax on the fuel they use	45%	44%	11%
Building more nuclear power stations	40%	37%	23%
Increasing taxes that motorists pay on petrol, using the money to reduce fares on buses and trains	27%	64%	8%

Source: YouGov / The Economist
Methodology: Online interviews with 1,771 British adults, conducted from Jul. 10 and Jul. 12, 2006. No margin of error was provided.