Public Support for Climate & Energy Policies in June 2010

Climate Change in the American Mind: Public Support for Climate & Energy Policies in June 2010 Interview dates: May 14, 2010 – June 1, 2010 Interviews: 1,024 Adults (18+) Margin of error: +/- 3 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. NOTE: All results show percentages among all respondents, unless otherwise labeled. Totals may occasionally sum to more than 100 percent due to rounding. This study was conducted by the Yale Project on Climate Change Communication and the George Mason University Center for Climate Change Communication, and was funded by the Surdna Foundation, the Eleventh Hour Project, the Pacific Foundation, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Principal Investigators: Anthony Leiserowitz, PhD Yale Project on Climate Change Communication School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Yale University (203) 432-4865 [email protected] Edward Maibach, MPH, PhD Center for Climate Change Communication Department of Communication, George Mason University (703) 993-1587 [email protected] Connie Roser-Renouf, PhD Center for Climate Change Communication Department of Communication, George Mason University (707) 825-0601 [email protected] Nicholas Smith, PhD Yale Project on Climate Change Communication School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Yale University (203) 432-1208 [email protected] Cite as: Leiserowitz, A., Maibach, E., Roser-Renouf, C. & Smith, N. (2010) Climate change in the American Mind: Public support for climate & energy policies in June 2010. Yale University and George Mason University. New Haven, CT: Yale Project on Climate Change Communication. http://environment.yale.edu/climate/files/PolicySupportJune2010.pdf

Q1541. Do you think global warming should be a low, medium, high, or very high priority for the president and Congress? Very high High Medium Low

June 2010* 17 27 33 23

Jan 2010* Nov 2008+ 13 21 25 33 31 30 31 17

* 2010 Question wording = Do you think global warming should be a low, medium, high, or very high priority for the president and Congress? + 2008 Question wording = Here are some issues now being discussed in Washington, D.C. Do you think each of these issues should be a low, medium, high, or very high priority for the next president and Congress?

Q155. Do you think that developing sources of clean energy should be a low, medium, high, or very high priority for the president and Congress? Very high High Medium Low

June 2010 34 37 23 6

Jan 2010 Nov 2008 24 36 29 11 -

(Questions 156-161 to be released separately.) Q162-168. Do you think each of the following should be doing more or less to address global warming? Your local government officials Much more More Currently doing the right amount Less Much less

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June 2010 14 36 36 8 7

Jan 2010 Nov 2008 12 13 34 45 35 29 8 7 10 6

Items are listed in the order they were asked despite occasional non-sequential item numbers.

Yale / George Mason University

Public Support for Climate & Energy Policies: June 2010

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Your state legislators Much more More Currently doing the right amount Less Much less

June 2010 15 36 33 8 8

Jan 2010 Nov 2008 14 16 36 47 30 25 10 6 10 6

June 2010 16 35 33 9 8

Jan 2010 Nov 2008 15 16 34 46 30 26 10 6 11 6

June 2010 19 35 26 10 9

Jan 2010 Nov 2008 19 26 35 41 23 20 10 6 15 7

Your governor Much more More Currently doing the right amount Less Much less The U.S. Congress Much more More Currently doing the right amount Less Much less The President Much more More Currently doing the right amount Less Much less

June 2010* 20 32 30 9 10

Jan 2010* Nov 2008+ 17 28 33 38 26 21 9 6 15 7

*President Barack Obama +President George W. Bush

Corporations and industry Much more More Currently doing the right amount Less Much less Yale / George Mason University

June 2010 38 28 22 7 6

Jan 2010 Nov 2008 33 41 31 32 21 17 7 5 9 6


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Citizens themselves Much more More Currently doing the right amount Less Much less

June 2010 31 33 24 7 5

Jan 2010 Nov 2008 27 30 36 42 23 20 7 5 8 5

Q169. People disagree whether the United States should reduce greenhouse gas emissions on its own, or make reductions only if other countries do too. Which of the following statements comes closest to your own point of view? The United States should reduce its greenhouse gas emissions… Regardless of what other countries do Only if other industrialized countries (such as England, Germany and Japan) reduce their emissions Only if other industrialized countries and developing countries (such as China, India and Brazil) reduce their emissions The US should not reduce its emissions Don’t know

June 2010 65

Jan 2010 Nov 2008 57 67

3

3

2

8

7

7

5 19

7 25

4 20

Q170. How big of an effort should the United States make to reduce global warming? A large-scale effort, even if it has large economic costs A medium-scale effort, even if it has moderate economic costs A small-scale effort, even if it has small economic costs No effort


June 2010 28 41 18 13

Jan 2010 Nov 2008 26 34 36 40 21 17 18 9


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Specific Policies For specific questions, see the tables below this chart.



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Q171. How much do you support or oppose establishing a special fund to help make buildings more energy efficient and teach Americans how to reduce their energy use? This would add a $2.50 surcharge to the average household’s monthly electric bill. Strongly support Somewhat support Somewhat oppose Strongly oppose

June 2010 14 41 24 21

Jan 2010 Nov 2008 14 20 41 43 22 21 23 16

Q172. How much do you support or oppose regulating carbon dioxide (the primary greenhouse gas) as a pollutant? Strongly support Somewhat support Somewhat oppose Strongly oppose

June 2010 26 51 13 11

Jan 2010 Nov 2008 24 30 47 50 14 13 15 7

Q173. How much do you support or oppose requiring electric utilities to produce at least 20% of their electricity from wind, solar, or other renewable energy sources, even if it cost the average household an extra $100 a year? Strongly support Somewhat support Somewhat oppose Strongly oppose

June 2010 22 39 22 18

Jan 2010 Nov 2008 18 31 40 41 21 17 21 11

Q174. How much do you support or oppose signing an international treaty that requires the United States to cut its emissions of carbon dioxide 90% by the year 2050? Strongly support Somewhat support Somewhat oppose Strongly oppose


June 2010 21 44 19 16

Jan 2010 Nov 2008 17 25 44 44 20 19 19 13


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Q177. How much do you support or oppose expanding offshore drilling for oil and natural gas off the U.S. coast? Strongly support Somewhat support Somewhat oppose Strongly oppose

June 2010 23 39 21 17

Jan 2010 Nov 2008 21 37 46 38 21 14 12 11

Q178. How much do you support or oppose building more nuclear power plants? Strongly support Somewhat support Somewhat oppose Strongly oppose

June 2010 16 37 30 17

Jan 2010 Nov 2008 17 23 32 38 31 24 20 15

Q179. How much do you support or oppose funding more research into renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power? Strongly support Somewhat support Somewhat oppose Strongly oppose

June 2010 42 45 10 3

Jan 2010 Nov 2008 41 53 44 39 11 6 4 2

Q180. How much do you support or oppose providing tax rebates for people who purchase energyefficient vehicles or solar panels? Strongly support Somewhat support Somewhat oppose Strongly oppose

June 2010 41 42 12 5

Jan 2010 Nov 2008 32 38 50 47 10 11 7 4

Q181. How much do you support or oppose increasing taxes on gasoline by 25 cents per gallon and returning the revenues to taxpayers by reducing the federal income tax? Strongly support Somewhat support Somewhat oppose Strongly oppose Yale / George Mason University

June 2010 9 26 33 32

Jan 2010 Nov 2008 8 9 26 24 31 30 34 37


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Q243. Overall, do you think that protecting the environment… Improves economic growth and provides new jobs Has no effect on economic growth or jobs Reduces economic growth and costs jobs

June 2010 56 25 18

Jan 2010 Nov 2008 -

Q244. When there is a conflict between environmental protection and economic growth, which do you think is more important? Protecting the environment, even if it reduces economic growth Economic growth, even if it leads to environmental problems


June 2010 65 35

Jan 2010 Nov 2008 63 37 -


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Policy Preferences by Political Party Registered Voters: Political Party Q254. Generally speaking, do you think of yourself as a… Democrat Independent Republican Other2 No party/not interested in politics3 Total

Percent Sample size 42 354 24 202 25 209 2 20 7 56 100 841

Registered Voters: Policy Preferences Q154. Do you think global warming should be a low, medium, high, or very high priority for the president and Congress? Very High High Medium Low

Nat’l Avg4 17 28 31 25

Dem 24 41 31 5

Ind 14 18 36 33

Rep 7 18 28 46

N/P 18 25 30 27

Q155. Do you think that developing sources of clean energy should be a low, medium, high, or very high priority for the president and Congress? Very High High Medium Low

2 3 4

Nat’l Avg 34 37 24 6

Dem 43 39 17 1

Ind 30 35 26 9

Rep 26 33 29 11

N/P 22 44 26 7

“Other” responses are not reported below due to their small sample size. Labeled “N/P” below. National average of registered voters.



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Q171. How much do you support or oppose establishing a special fund to help make buildings more energy efficient and teach Americans how to reduce their energy use? This would add a $2.50 surcharge to the average household’s monthly electric bill. Strongly support Somewhat support Somewhat oppose Strongly oppose

Nat’l Avg 16 39 23 22

Dem 22 48 22 9

Ind 15 33 28 23

Rep 5 34 22 39

N/P 20 33 24 22

Q172. How much do you support or oppose regulating carbon dioxide (the primary greenhouse gas) as a pollutant? Strongly support Somewhat support Somewhat oppose Strongly oppose

Nat’l Avg 25 51 12 12

Dem 34 57 8 1

Ind 24 39 18 18

Rep 12 52 13 23

N/P 22 60 16 2

Q173. How much do you support or oppose requiring electric utilities to produce at least 20% of their electricity from wind, solar, or other renewable energy sources, even if it cost the average household an extra $100 a year? Strongly support Somewhat support Somewhat oppose Strongly oppose

Nat’l Avg 22 38 21 20

Dem 30 41 23 6

Ind 25 30 18 27

Rep 10 36 20 34

N/P 16 54 18 13

Q174. How much do you support or oppose signing an international treaty that requires the United States to cut its emissions of carbon dioxide 90% by the year 2050? Strongly support Somewhat support Somewhat oppose Strongly oppose


Nat’l Avg 21 43 17 18

Dem 33 49 15 3

Ind 16 38 20 26

Rep 8 36 20 37

N/P 22 55 20 4


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Q177. How much do you support or oppose expanding offshore drilling for oil and natural gas off the U.S. coast? Strongly support Somewhat support Somewhat oppose Strongly oppose

Nat’l Avg 24 39 20 17

Dem 17 32 28 24

Ind 24 37 20 20

Rep 34 51 8 7

N/P 20 52 20 7

Q178. How much do you support or oppose building more nuclear power plants?

Strongly support Somewhat support Somewhat oppose Strongly oppose

Nat’l Avg 18 38 29 15

Dem 11 32 35 22

Ind 21 44 26 8

Rep 26 42 24 9

N/P 6 38 27 29

Q179. How much do you support or oppose funding more research into renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power?

Strongly support Somewhat support Somewhat oppose Strongly oppose

Nat’l Avg 44 44 9 4

Dem 54 37 7 2

Ind 43 46 7 4

Rep 29 52 12 8

N/P 45 43 9 4

Q180. How much do you support or oppose providing tax rebates for people who purchase energyefficient vehicles or solar panels? Strongly support Somewhat support Somewhat oppose Strongly oppose

Nat’l Avg 42 42 11 6

Dem 56 32 9 3

Ind 42 44 8 6

Rep 22 54 16 8

N/P 41 48 7 4

Q181. How much do you support or oppose increasing taxes on gasoline by 25 cents per gallon and returning the revenues to taxpayers by reducing the federal income tax? Strongly support Somewhat support Somewhat oppose Strongly oppose Yale / George Mason University

Nat’l Avg 10 27 31 33

Dem 16 28 35 22

Ind 8 26 32 34

Rep 3 27 26 45

N/P 7 25 27 41


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Q243. Overall, do you think that protecting the environment: Nat’l Avg

Dem

Ind

Rep

N/P

56

68

46

44

61

24 20

22 10

26 28

26 30

29 11

Improves economic growth and provides new jobs Has no effect on economic growth or jobs Reduces economic growth and costs jobs

Q244. When there is a conflict between environmental protection and economic growth, which do you think is more important? Protecting the environment, even if it reduces economic growth Economic growth, even if it leads to environmental problems

Nat’l Avg

Dem

Ind

Rep

N/P

63

79

63

37

69

37

21

37

63

32

Methodology These results come from nationally representative surveys of American adults, aged 18 and older. The samples were weighted to correspond with US Census Bureau parameters for the United States. The surveys were designed by Anthony Leiserowitz of Yale University and Edward Maibach and Connie Roser-Renouf of George Mason University and conducted by Knowledge Networks, using an online research panel of American adults. • • •

June 2010: Fielded May 14 through June 1 with 1,024 American adults. The margin of sampling error is plus or minus 3 percent, with 95 percent confidence. January 2010: Fielded December 24, 2009 through January 3, 2010 with 1,001 American adults. The margin of sampling error is plus or minus 3 percent, with 95 percent confidence. November 2008: Fielded October 7 through November 12 with 2,164 American adults. Data was collected in two waves: wave 1 from October 7 through October 20 and wave 2 from October 24 through November 12. The margin of sampling error is plus or minus 2 percent, with 95 percent confidence.



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