BUSINESS leaders overwhelmingly believe carbon pricing will survive and those directly affected have started taking steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, according to a survey of senior executives.

The survey of 136 executives commissioned by multinational GE found nearly three-quarters believed the carbon price scheme would remain despite the Coalition's pledge to repeal it if elected.

85 per cent of of 38 firms directly liable for the carbon price have a carbon strategy in place. Credit:Reuters

But nearly half said they thought the scheme starting on Sunday - requiring big emitters to pay a fixed rate per tonne of carbon dioxide for three years, before evolving into emissions trading under which pollution permits can be bought and sold on the market - would eventually be replaced with an improved model.

Of the firms directly liable for the carbon price, it found 85 per cent had a carbon-reduction strategy in place. Across all firms, nearly a third, up 3 per cent from early last year, had modelled the impact of different carbon prices on operations.