A clear majority of WWViews participants are in support of punishing countries that do not meet their commitments under a new climate deal. They also support the introduction of incentive measures to reward behavioral change and technological development.

OBSERVATIONS

• 83% of the participating citizens support significant punishments for those countries that do not meet their commitments under a new climate deal.

• 48% of the citizens support punishments so severe that no benefit can be gained by not meeting the commitments.

• In non-Annex 1 countries, there is 10% higher support for severe or significant punishments than in the world generally.

• The strongest support for severe punishments comes from Egypt (83%) and Bangladesh (81%).

• A number of the citizens’ recommendations suggest incentives for climate-friendly action, e.g. through market incentives, reward systems and through leadership and force of example.

ASSESSMENTS

There is much support among WWViews participants for providing a new climate deal with legal measures that help ensure that countries fulfil their commitments. The support for severe punishments for non-complying countries is highest among countries that are predicted to be among the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change, e.g. Egypt and Bangladesh.

The support for introducing severe or significant punishments is strong even among some of the U.S. states, where one might expect more market based solutions (e.g., 90% of the respondents in the state of California support either severe or significant punishments).

The recommendations made by the citizens also include a number of ideas that emphasize rewards and incentives. This, together with the answers on punishment, indicates a wish among many citizens for implementing climate policies that balance sticks with carrots.

Around one-quarter of all the citizens’ recommendations deal with standards, regulations and punishments. Many of the proposals for regulations include the idea of a supranational agency empowered to monitor and enforce the actions and outcomes specified in a climate deal.