By GreenBiz.com

WASHINGTON, D.C., Nov. 6, 2007 -- A new poll shows a majority of people around the world claim they would make personal sacrifices to help battle climate change.

Eighty-three percent of people polled in 21 countries said a change in lifestyle and behavior for their countrymen would be necessary to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, according to the poll from BBC World Service.

Sixty-five percent of those polled in the U.S. said that higher energy costs are necessary to curb usage while 79 percent of respondents said American lifestyles must change to reduce emissions.

Less than half of Americans support higher taxes on coal and oil. If revenues are used to develop renewables or encourage energy efficiency, however, a majority -- or 74 percent -- would back higher taxes.

Of the countries polled, urban Chinese expressed the most willingness to change their lifestyles. Eighty-six percent said they'd change their lifestyle while 83 percent supported higher energy costs. Eighty-five percent said they'd pay higher taxes on coal and oil. "While few citizens welcome higher taxes, the poll suggests that national leaders could succeed in introducing a carbon tax on energy," said Steven Kull, director of the Program on International Policy Attitudes, which conducted the poll with GlobeScan and BBC World Service. "The key requirement is that their citizens trust that the resulting tax revenues will be invested in addressing climate change by increasing energy efficiency and developing cleaner fuels."