A new survey conducted by Greenpeace and Oxfam, released at the Bonn Climate Conference 2025, shows that a vast majority of Indians support imposing taxes on oil, gas, and coal companies for the environmental harm they cause, such as floods, droughts, wildfires, and health-related impacts.
According to the findings, 80 per cent of Indian respondents believe that fossil fuel corporations should bear financial responsibility for the damage linked to their operations. More than half of the participants said that the taxes should specifically target oil and gas companies. Meanwhile, 23 per cent suggested businesses in general should pay, 13 per cent recommended levies on consumer goods, and 10 per cent said working individuals should also contribute.
When asked who should be primarily responsible for these taxes, 43 per cent pointed to company owners, shareholders, investors, and executives. Another 32 per cent felt that high-consumption consumers, such as SUV owners and frequent airline travellers, should be taxed. About 23 per cent said all consumers should share the burden. Only 2 per cent of those surveyed opposed the idea of any such tax on fossil fuels.
Support for increasing fossil fuel taxes to help climate-affected communities was also high. Around 87 per cent of respondents backed the idea of using this tax revenue to aid vulnerable populations on the frontline of climate change. Only a small portion, 13 per cent, expressed opposition to such measures.
The survey also revealed that 85 per cent of Indians favour closing loopholes that allow wealthy individuals and global corporations to avoid taxes through offshore havens, signalling public frustration over corporate tax avoidance.
However, opinions were mixed on the influence of fossil fuel companies and the super-rich on politics in India. Nearly half of the respondents viewed this influence as negative, while the rest felt it had a positive effect. Yet, 77 per cent indicated they would support political candidates focused on taxing polluting companies and the wealthy.
Internationally, the survey reflected similar sentiments across the 12 countries covered, including Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Kenya, Mexico, the Philippines, South Africa, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Like India, majorities in these nations also favoured taxes on fossil fuel companies to address environmental damages and called for more government spending to protect climate-vulnerable communities.
In contrast to India, most respondents from other countries felt their governments were not doing enough to reduce the power of fossil fuel firms and the super-rich. A majority also believed that these corporations exert a harmful influence on political processes an opinion held by 68 per cent of global respondents compared to India’s divided view.
The survey highlighted a growing global demand for holding polluters accountable and redirecting resources towards a cleaner, more equitable future.