Polling across six major European economies reveals broad support for carbon pricing, including across political divides, and strong backing for investing saved emission costs in Europe’s green industrial transition.
This brief presents findings from the YouGov European Political Monthly (EPM) survey conducted on behalf of Beyond Fossil Fuels, 6–18 May 2026 across France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Poland and the Netherlands. The survey gathered responses from 6156 nationally representative adults aged 18 and over, examining attitudes towards carbon pricing for energy-intensive industries, conditions for emissions exemptions, and the role governments should play in driving industrial decarbonisation.
Briefing: What European citizens expect from the EU Emissions Trading System
Key findings:
- One in two (50%) believes that companies benefiting from exemptions should involve local communities in decisions about industrial transformation and its impacts.
A majority of 59% of European citizens support measures requiring heavy industry to pay for its CO₂ emissions; only 23% are against. Support extends across political divides, reaching well beyond the traditional green electorate. - An overwhelming 72% believe that companies emitting the most—or those failing to reduce their emissions—should pay more than others. Only 9% favour all companies paying the same amount, while just 8% believe companies should not be required to pay at all.
- One in two (50%) favour investing carbon revenues in industrial decarbonisation, rather than extending free allowances; only 18% support continued free allocation.
- A majority of 62% believes that, where companies are exempted from paying for their CO₂ emissions, they should be required to reinvest the value of those exemptions in reducing future emissions.
- Similarly, 63% of European citizens believe that companies benefiting from exemptions from carbon pricing should support a just industrial transition by investing in workforce reskilling, providing staff training and guaranteeing high-quality working conditions.
All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Fieldwork was conducted online between 6 and 18 May 2026 among 6156 adults aged 18 and over across France (1009), Germany (1095), Spain (1035) , Italy (1003), Netherlands (1007) and Poland (1007). Data were weighted to be nationally representative of the adult population in each of the six respondent countries.
This brief is endorsed by a broad community of experts and civil society organisations who are advocating for a green industrial transition in Europe. Beyond Fossil Fuels led the coordination of the project behind this publication.
For more information:
Jani Savolainen, Communications Coordinator, CAN Europe | jani.savolainen@caneurope.org | +358 504667831