Alina Oprea • 29 November, 2023 at 7:25 AM
Romanians believe that climate change can only be managed if inequalities are simultaneously eliminated. The increase in the cost of living, income inequality, and climate and environmental concerns are at the top of the list of challenges that Romanian respondents see in their country, according to a survey published by the European Investment Bank (EIB). According to him, three-quarters are in favor of eliminating subsidies and tax breaks for the aviation sector and for all companies that rely heavily on fossil fuels.
The European Investment Bank (EIB) has launched the sixth edition of its Climate Survey. Running since 2018, the EIB Climate Survey provides information on people's views on climate change in major economies around the world, with over 30,000 respondents from the European Union, the United States of America, China, India, Japan, the United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, Canada and South Korea. The EIB is the lending institution of the European Union and the world's largest multilateral lender for climate action projects.
After another year full of challenges marked not only by inflation but also by record heat waves and drought, Romanian respondents became more aware of the profound impact of climate change and the need for immediate action in Romania and around the world, according to the results EIB Climate Survey. While the rising cost of living is by far the biggest challenge for respondents (78% place it in the top three concerns for their country, 8 points above the EU average), followed by income inequality (46%), the impact of climate change and environmental degradation ranks third by a small margin, with 45% considering them a major concern (5 points above the EU average).
After ranking inflation and income inequality as the most important major challenges, most Romanian respondents called for equitable policies to address the climate emergency. 65% (3 points below the EU average) say that the transition to a low-carbon economy can only happen if social and economic inequalities are tackled at the same time.
However, only 33% of respondents say they have confidence in the government's ability to achieve such a just climate transition.
Regarding the issue of compensation for developing countries to help them cope with the impact of climate change – which is expected to be a main concern at the 2023 UN Climate Change Conference in Dubai (COP28) – the majority of Romanian respondents are in favor of extending aid beyond their borders to support countries most vulnerable to climate change and to ensure a just global transition to a resilient and climate-neutral future.
60% of respondents (similar to the EU average) agree that the country should financially compensate affected nations to help them fight the impacts of climate change.
The survey results show that 66% of Romanian respondents (7 points above the EU average of 59%) would be willing to pay more income tax to help lower-income households meet the costs of an ecological transition. 54% would agree to pay an extra 1-2% of their income, and 13% would agree to pay an extra 5-10%.
The vast majority of respondents said they would also be in favor of other types of climate-related policies. For example, 78% said they would favor fossil fuel tax reform to eliminate subsidies and tax breaks for the aviation sector and other industries that rely heavily on fossil fuels.
"The latest EIB Climate Survey underlines Romanians' deep sensitivity to the impact of climate change and their commitment to firmly address it. They recognize that a successful transition to a climate-neutral world goes hand in hand with addressing social and economic inequalities at home and globally. At the European Investment Bank, we are fully committed to supporting a just transition that leaves no one behind. Solidarity and actionable measures are more important than ever," says EIB Vice President Kyriacos Kakouris.
The European Investment Bank (EIB) has completed its sixth edition of the EIB Climate Survey, an in-depth assessment of people's views on climate change. Conducted in partnership with market research firm BVA, the sixth edition of the EIB Climate Survey aims to inform the wider debate on attitudes and expectations around climate action. More than 30,000 respondents took part in the survey between 7 August and 4 September 2023, with a representative group of people aged 15 and over for each of the 35 countries surveyed (EU 27, United States, China, United Kingdom, India, Japan, South Korea, Canada and the United Arab Emirates).
The European Investment Bank (EIB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union owned by its member states. It is active in over 160 countries and provides long-term financing for solid investments, with the aim of contributing to the achievement of EU policy objectives.
The EIB Group aims to support investments worth 1,000 billion euros in climate actions and environmental sustainability in the critical decade 2021-2030.
It has also pledged to increase investment in climate action and environmental sustainability to more than 50% of its annual lending by 2025 (last year, this target was surpassed at 58%).