Nearly 80 percent of people who responded to an Internet survey said they support the proposed introduction of an environmental tax which would levy an average of 180 yen per month on each household, the Environment Ministry said Sunday.

The tax, which the ministry hopes to introduce in fiscal 2006, would generate 370 billion yen in annual revenue to finance measures against global warming, such as forestation, according to the ministry.

It said 77.7 percent of the poll respondents are willing to accept such a tax, while 17.3 percent said they would not.

On the idea of imposing the tax in proportion to the amount of carbon dioxide emissions, 65.8 percent said they were in favor and 25.8 percent expressed opposition.

The survey was conducted via the Internet for four days last week. Valid responses came from 1,442 people age 20 or older around the nation.