Public support for carbon pricing stayed stable in Germany

What the study found: Public support for carbon pricing in Germany was very persistent over time, but support declined among people who faced high energy costs. The study also found that support for revenue use changed, with social cushioning becoming more popular and support for green spending decreasing.
Why the authors say this matters: The authors conclude that climate policies need to adapt in response to increased energy costs, because public support can shift in this context. The findings indicate that the way carbon-pricing revenue is used also matters for public support.
What the researchers tested: The researchers analyzed unique longitudinal data from three surveys conducted between 2019 and 2022 in Germany. They used panel methods to study changes in support for carbon pricing and for different ways of using the revenue.
What worked and what didn't: Support for carbon pricing remained very persistent across the study period. Support decreased among people with high energy costs. For revenue use, social cushioning became more popular over time, while support for green spending decreased.
What to keep in mind: The study is based on three surveys in Germany from 2019 to 2022, so the findings are limited to that context and time period. The abstract does not describe additional limitations.

Key points

• Support for carbon pricing in Germany was very persistent over time.
• People facing high energy costs decreased their support for carbon pricing.
• Support for social cushioning as a use of revenue became more popular over time.
• Support for green spending as a use of revenue decreased over time.
• The study used longitudinal data from three German surveys between 2019 and 2022.