American Opinions on Global Warming
Primary Investigator: Anthony
Leiserowitz[1]
Contents
·
Simplified Results (summary % for each policy)
o
Table 1: Awareness
o
Table 2: Concern
o
Table 3: U.S. Reduce Emissions
o
Table 4: Regulate CO2
o
Table 5: Subsidize Renewable Energy
o
Table 6: Gas Guzzler Tax
o
Table 7: Business Energy Tax
o
Table 8: Gas Tax
o
Table 9: Kyoto Protocol
o
Table 10: U.S. Act Regardless
o
Table 11: International Emissions Market
·
Summary Chart
(% support for all National and International policies)
·
Detailed Results (results broken down by Political Identification, Political
Ideology, and Geographic Region – see “How to
Interpret Detailed Results”)
o
Table 1: Awareness
o
Table 2: Concern
o
Table 3: U.S. Reduce Emissions
o
Table 4: Regulate CO2
o
Table 5: Subsidize Renewable Energy
o
Table 6: Gas Guzzler Tax
o
Table 7: Business Energy Tax
o
Table 8: Gas Tax
o
Table 9: Kyoto Protocol
o
Table 10: U.S. Act Regardless
o
Table 11: International Emissions Market
·
Methodology (study methods)
Executive Summary
A
nationally representative survey entitled “American Opinions on Global Warming”
was conducted by Anthony Leiserowitz and the University of Oregon Survey
Research Laboratory (OSRL) between November 2002 and February 2003 (n=673).
This research found that of those
Americans who have heard of global warming (92%):
·
Over
90% think the United States should reduce its greenhouse gas emissions.
·
A
strong majority (77%) support government regulation of carbon dioxide as a
pollutant and investment in renewable energy (71%).
·
A
strong majority (88%) support the Kyoto Protocol and (76%) want the United
States to reduce greenhouse gas emissions regardless of what other countries
do.
· While a majority favor a tax on "gas
guzzlers" (54%), strong majorities oppose a gasoline tax (78%) or a
business energy tax (60%) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
· They divide evenly (40%) regarding a market-based
emissions trading system, while 18% are uncertain.
·
Democrats and Liberals
express stronger support for climate change policies than Republicans and
Conservatives.
·
Independents and
Moderates show levels of support more similar to Democrats and Liberals than to
Republicans and Conservatives.
·
Nonetheless, majorities
of Republicans and Conservatives support most climate change policies.
Public
Awareness and Concern about Global Warming
Table 1: Awareness
“Have you ever heard of global warming?”
|
|
% |
Yes
|
92 |
No
|
8 |
|
Total |
100 |
Table 2: Concern
“How concerned are you about global warming?”
|
|
% |
|
Somewhat/Very concerned |
75 |
|
Not very/Not at all
concerned |
24 |
|
No response |
1 |
|
Total |
100 |
National
Policies
Table 3: U.S. Reduce Emissions
“Do you
think the United States should reduce its emissions of the greenhouse gases
(carbon dioxide, methane, etc.) that are said to cause global warming?”
|
|
% |
|
Probably/Definitely Yes |
90 |
|
Probably/Definitely No |
7 |
|
No response |
3 |
|
Total |
100 |
Table 4:
Regulate CO2
“Carbon
dioxide is the primary greenhouse gas said to be causing global warming and is
produced by electric power plants and motor vehicles (e.g., cars, trucks and
sport utility vehicles).
Currently, carbon dioxide is not regulated as a pollutant. How much do you support or oppose the regulation
of carbon dioxide as a pollutant?”
|
|
% |
|
Somewhat/Strongly Support |
77 |
|
Somewhat/Strongly Oppose |
20 |
|
No response |
3 |
|
Total |
100 |
Table 5: Subsidize Renewable Energy
“The United
States government provides approximately $5 billion a year in subsidies to the
fossil fuel industry (coal, oil, natural gas). Some people have proposed
transferring these subsidies to the renewable energy industry (wind, solar,
biomass, etc.) to develop cleaner forms of energy. This would make fossil fuels more expensive and renewable
energy less expensive. How much do
you support or oppose this proposal?”
|
|
% |
|
Somewhat/Strongly Support |
71 |
|
Somewhat/Strongly Oppose |
17 |
|
Don’t know |
9 |
|
No response |
3 |
|
Total |
100 |
Table 6: Gas Guzzler Tax
“In order
to encourage people to use more fuel-efficient vehicles, some people have
proposed a 5 percent "gas guzzler" tax on cars, trucks and sport
utility vehicles that get less than 25 miles per gallon. This would add
approximately $1,000 to the price of a $20,000 car. How much do you support or
oppose this proposal?”
|
|
% |
|
Somewhat/Strongly Support |
54 |
|
Somewhat/Strongly Oppose |
40 |
|
Don't know |
3 |
|
No response |
3 |
|
Total |
100 |
Table 7: Business Energy Tax
“To
encourage industry to be more fuel efficient, some people have proposed a
business energy tax. This tax would raise the average price of most things you
buy, including food and clothing, by 3 percent, or approximately $380 per
person per year. How much do you
support or oppose this proposal?”
|
|
% |
|
Somewhat/Strongly Support |
31 |
|
Somewhat/Strongly Oppose |
60 |
|
Don't know |
6 |
|
No response |
3 |
|
Total |
100 |
Table 8:
Gas Tax
“How much
do you support or oppose a 60-cent per gallon gasoline tax, over and above
existing gas taxes, to encourage people to drive less and thus reduce carbon
dioxide emissions?”
|
|
% |
|
Somewhat/Strongly Support |
17 |
|
Somewhat/Strongly Oppose |
78 |
|
Don't know |
2 |
|
No response |
3 |
|
Total |
100 |
International
POLICIES
Table 9:
Kyoto Protocol
“In 1997,
the United States and other developed countries made an agreement called the
Kyoto Protocol to collectively reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases. The United States agreed to reduce its
emissions by 7% by the year 2010.
How much do you favor or oppose this agreement?”
|
|
% |
|
Somewhat/Strongly Favor |
88 |
|
Somewhat/Strongly Oppose |
10 |
|
No response |
2 |
|
Total |
100 |
Table 10: U.S. Act Regardless
“The United States currently emits about 20% of the world's total greenhouse gases. People disagree whether the U.S. 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 emissions...
|
|
% |
|
...regardless of what
other countries do. |
76 |
|
...only if all other
industrialized countries reduce their emissions. |
7 |
|
...only if all other
industrialized and all less-developed countries reduce their emissions. |
8 |
|
The United States should
not reduce its emissions. |
2 |
|
Don't know. |
5 |
|
No response |
2 |
|
Total |
100 |
Table 11: International Emissions Market
“One
controversial proposal to solve global warming is to create an international
market in greenhouse gases. In this system, all countries agree to a global cap
on emissions. Each country then
gets the right to emit a portion of this global amount. If a country emits more than its
portion, it must buy more emission rights from other countries or else pay
stiff fines. In principle, how
much do you support or oppose an international market that allows countries to
buy and sell
greenhouse gases?”
|
|
% |
|
Somewhat/Strongly Support |
40 |
|
Somewhat/Strongly Oppose |
40 |
|
Don't know |
18 |
|
No response |
2 |
|
Total |
100 |
Americans’ Support for National and
International Policies
January, 2003
Detailed
Results
Public
Awareness and Concern about Global Warming
Table 1: Awareness
“Have you ever heard of global warming?”
|
|
% |
Yes
|
92 |
No
|
8 |
|
Total |
100 |
Table 2: Concern
“How concerned are you about global warming?”
|
|
Total |
Political ID |
Political Ideology |
Region |
|||||||
|
Dem |
Ind |
Rep |
Lib |
Mod |
Con |
NE |
S |
MW |
W |
||
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
Concerned
(total) |
75 |
86 |
80 |
62 |
90 |
79 |
55 |
80 |
70 |
75 |
76 |
|
Very concerned |
26 |
42 |
28 |
13 |
44 |
21 |
16 |
29 |
24 |
24 |
29 |
|
Somewhat concerned |
49 |
45 |
51 |
49 |
46 |
58 |
39 |
52 |
46 |
51 |
47 |
|
Not
concerned (total) |
24 |
12 |
20 |
38 |
9 |
20 |
44 |
20 |
27 |
24 |
24 |
|
Not very concerned |
18 |
9 |
12 |
29 |
6 |
16 |
31 |
16 |
18 |
17 |
19 |
|
Not at all concerned |
7 |
3 |
7 |
9 |
3 |
4 |
13 |
4 |
9 |
7 |
5 |
How to Interpret Detailed Results (for the above table)
Reading across: For Political
ID, 86% of Democrats, 80% of
Independents, and 62% of Republicans are concerned (total) about global
warming. For Political Ideology,
90% of Liberals, 79% of Moderates and 55% of Conservatives are concerned
(total). For Region, 80% of respondents in the Northeast, 70% in the
South, 75% in the Midwest, and 76% in the West are concerned (total) about
global warming.
Reading down: A Total
of 75% of all respondents said they were very (26%) to somewhat (49%)
concerned, while 24% said they were not very (18%) to not at all (7%) concerned
about global warming. Among Republicans, a total of 62% said they were very (13%) to
somewhat (49%) concerned, while a total of 38% said they were not very (29%) to
not at all concerned (9%).
*Note: Results are rounded
to the nearest whole number.
Columns do not always total 100% due to a small percentage of
respondents who did not answer every question.
National
Policies
Table 3: U.S. Reduce Emissions
“Do you
think the United States should reduce its emissions of the greenhouse gases
(carbon dioxide, methane, etc.) that are said to cause global warming?”
|
|
Total |
Political ID |
Political Ideology |
Region |
|||||||
|
Dem |
Ind |
Rep |
Lib |
Mod |
Con |
NE |
S |
MW |
W |
||
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
Yes (total) |
90 |
94 |
91 |
87 |
96 |
91 |
84 |
95 |
88 |
91 |
88 |
|
Definitely yes |
58 |
71 |
62 |
44 |
75 |
59 |
42 |
66 |
57 |
57 |
54 |
|
Probably yes |
32 |
23 |
29 |
43 |
21 |
33 |
43 |
29 |
31 |
34 |
34 |
|
No (total) |
7 |
4 |
6 |
12 |
3 |
6 |
14 |
5 |
9 |
6 |
9 |
|
Probably no |
6 |
3 |
5 |
9 |
2 |
6 |
10 |
3 |
7 |
4 |
8 |
|
Definitely no |
2 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
5 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
Table 4:
Regulate CO2
“Carbon
dioxide is the primary greenhouse gas said to be causing global warming and is
produced by electric power plants and motor vehicles (e.g., cars, trucks and
sport utility vehicles).
Currently, carbon dioxide is not regulated as a pollutant. How much do you support or oppose the
regulation of carbon dioxide as a pollutant?”
|
|
Total |
Political ID |
Political Ideology |
Region |
|||||||
|
Dem |
Ind |
Rep |
Lib |
Mod |
Con |
NE |
S |
MW |
W |
||
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
Support (total) |
77 |
84 |
81 |
69 |
86 |
84 |
62 |
85 |
75 |
79 |
71 |
|
Strongly support |
34 |
43 |
43 |
20 |
48 |
36 |
18 |
46 |
28 |
36 |
29 |
|
Somewhat support |
43 |
41 |
38 |
49 |
38 |
48 |
44 |
39 |
47 |
43 |
42 |
|
Oppose (total) |
20 |
13 |
16 |
30 |
12 |
14 |
36 |
14 |
21 |
19 |
27 |
|
Somewhat oppose |
14 |
10 |
12 |
19 |
10 |
11 |
23 |
10 |
14 |
12 |
21 |
|
Strongly oppose |
6 |
3 |
5 |
10 |
2 |
4 |
13 |
5 |
7 |
7 |
5 |
Table 5: Subsidize Renewable Energy
“The United
States government provides approximately $5 billion a year in subsidies to the
fossil fuel industry (coal, oil, natural gas). Some people have proposed
transferring these subsidies to the renewable energy industry (wind, solar,
biomass, etc.) to develop cleaner forms of energy. This would make fossil fuels more expensive and renewable
energy less expensive. How much do
you support or oppose this proposal?”
|
|
Total |
Political ID |
Political Ideology |
Region |
|||||||
|
Dem |
Ind |
Rep |
Lib |
Mod |
Con |
NE |
S |
MW |
W |
||
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
Support (total) |
71 |
82 |
76 |
58 |
82 |
79 |
52 |
72 |
67 |
75 |
73 |
|
Strongly support |
29 |
45 |
31 |
12 |
49 |
27 |
14 |
33 |
29 |
27 |
31 |
|
Somewhat support |
42 |
37 |
45 |
46 |
33 |
52 |
39 |
39 |
38 |
49 |
42 |
|
Oppose (total) |
17 |
12 |
12 |
26 |
12 |
11 |
29 |
11 |
21 |
12 |
22 |
|
Somewhat oppose |
11 |
9 |
7 |
16 |
11 |
7 |
16 |
3 |
15 |
7 |
18 |
|
Strongly oppose |
6 |
2 |
5 |
10 |
1 |
4 |
13 |
8 |
6 |
5 |
4 |
|
Don't know |
9 |
4 |
9 |
13 |
3 |
8 |
15 |
13 |
8 |
9 |
5 |
Table 6: Gas Guzzler Tax
“In order
to encourage people to use more fuel-efficient vehicles, some people have
proposed a 5 percent "gas guzzler" tax on cars, trucks and sport
utility vehicles that get less than 25 miles per gallon. This would add
approximately $1,000 to the price of a $20,000 car. How much do you support or
oppose this proposal?”
|
|
Total |
Political ID |
Political Ideology |
Region |
|||||||
|
Dem |
Ind |
Rep |
Lib |
Mod |
Con |
NE |
S |
MW |
W |
||
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
Support (total) |
54 |
67 |
56 |
38 |
67 |
60 |
33 |
65 |
50 |
52 |
49 |
|
Strongly support |
23 |
34 |
17 |
15 |
40 |
19 |
15 |
28 |
22 |
18 |
30 |
|
Somewhat support |
30 |
33 |
39 |
23 |
27 |
42 |
18 |
38 |
28 |
34 |
20 |
|
Oppose (total) |
40 |
28 |
36 |
56 |
29 |
33 |
59 |
27 |
42 |
41 |
46 |
|
Somewhat oppose |
14 |
13 |
12 |
17 |
14 |
14 |
16 |
5 |
15 |
19 |
14 |
|
Strongly oppose |
26 |
15 |
25 |
39 |
15 |
19 |
43 |
22 |
27 |
23 |
32 |
|
Don't know |
3 |
3 |
4 |
3 |
1 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
4 |
4 |
1 |
Table 7: Business Energy Tax
“To
encourage industry to be more fuel efficient, some people have proposed a
business energy tax. This tax would raise the average price of most things you
buy, including food and clothing, by 3 percent, or approximately $380 per
person per year. How much do you
support or oppose this proposal?”
|
|
Total |
Political ID |
Political Ideology |
Region |
|||||||
|
Dem |
Ind |
Rep |
Lib |
Mod |
Con |
NE |
S |
MW |
W |
||
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
4 |
% |
|
|
Support (total) |
31 |
35 |
36 |
25 |
37 |
35 |
23 |
42 |
22 |
25 |
38 |
|
Strongly support |
7 |
11 |
7 |
2 |
13 |
6 |
2 |
9 |
5 |
4 |
11 |
|
Somewhat support |
25 |
25 |
29 |
23 |
24 |
30 |
21 |
33 |
18 |
25 |
27 |
|
Oppose (total) |
60 |
57 |
54 |
67 |
53 |
58 |
68 |
47 |
69 |
61 |
55 |
|
Somewhat oppose |
23 |
29 |
18 |
20 |
30 |
24 |
16 |
16 |
29 |
21 |
22 |
|
Strongly oppose |
37 |
28 |
35 |
46 |
24 |
34 |
52 |
31 |
40 |
40 |
33 |
|
Don't know |
6 |
5 |
6 |
5 |
7 |
4 |
6 |
7 |
5 |
7 |
4 |
Table 8:
Gas Tax
“How much
do you support or oppose a 60-cent per gallon gasoline tax, over and above
existing gas taxes, to encourage people to drive less and thus reduce carbon
dioxide emissions?”
|
|
Total |
Political ID |
Political Ideology |
Region |
|||||||
|
Dem |
Ind |
Rep |
Lib |
Mod |
Con |
NE |
S |
MW |
W |
||
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
Support (total) |
17 |
24 |
16 |
10 |
29 |
14 |
10 |
21 |
12 |
19 |
15 |
|
Strongly support |
8 |
13 |
7 |
4 |
16 |
5 |
5 |
9 |
6 |
8 |
9 |
|
Somewhat support |
9 |
12 |
9 |
7 |
13 |
10 |
5 |
13 |
6 |
11 |
6 |
|
Oppose (total) |
78 |
72 |
76 |
85 |
69 |
80 |
85 |
71 |
84 |
73 |
81 |
|
Somewhat oppose |
25 |
30 |
25 |
21 |
29 |
32 |
13 |
26 |
29 |
20 |
24 |
|
Strongly oppose |
53 |
43 |
51 |
64 |
40 |
48 |
72 |
46 |
55 |
53 |
57 |
|
Don't know |
2 |
2 |
5 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
4 |
1 |
4 |
1 |
International
POLICIES
Table 9:
Kyoto Protocol
“In 1997,
the United States and other developed countries made an agreement called the
Kyoto Protocol to collectively reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases. The United States agreed to reduce its
emissions by 7% by the year 2010.
How much do you favor or oppose this agreement?”
|
|
Total |
Political ID |
Political Ideology |
Region |
|||||||
|
Dem |
Ind |
Rep |
Lib |
Mod |
Con |
NE |
S |
MW |
W |
||
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
Favor (total) |
88 |
94 |
88 |
83 |
97 |
92 |
76 |
96 |
83 |
90 |
86 |
|
Strongly favor |
53 |
62 |
57 |
43 |
71 |
56 |
37 |
62 |
52 |
61 |
33 |
|
Somewhat favor |
35 |
32 |
30 |
40 |
26 |
37 |
39 |
34 |
30 |
29 |
53 |
|
Oppose (total) |
10 |
4 |
10 |
15 |
2 |
6 |
21 |
4 |
15 |
7 |
11 |
|
Somewhat oppose |
5 |
3 |
6 |
7 |
2 |
4 |
10 |
1 |
9 |
3 |
5 |
|
Strongly oppose |
5 |
1 |
4 |
9 |
0 |
1 |
12 |
3 |
6 |
4 |
5 |
Table 10: U.S. Act Regardless
“The United States currently emits about 20% of the world's total greenhouse gases. People disagree whether the U.S. 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 emissions...
…regardless of what other countries do.
…only if all other industrialized countries reduce their emissions.
…only if all other industrialized and all less-developed countries reduce their emissions.
…The United States should not reduce its emissions.
…Don’t know.”
|
|
Total |
Political ID |
Political Ideology |
Region |
|||||||
|
Dem |
Ind |
Rep |
Lib |
Mod |
Con |
NE |
S |
MW |
W |
||
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
Regardless
of other countries |
76 |
83 |
84 |
65 |
93 |
80 |
55 |
80 |
72 |
80 |
71 |
|
Only if
all industrialized |
7 |
5 |
3 |
11 |
1 |
6 |
12 |
7 |
7 |
4 |
11 |
|
Only if
all other countries |
8 |
4 |
4 |
13 |
1 |
5 |
17 |
6 |
11 |
5 |
7 |
|
US should
not reduce |
2 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
5 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
|
Don't
know |
5 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
2 |
5 |
9 |
5 |
6 |
5 |
5 |
Table 11: International Emissions Market
“One
controversial proposal to solve global warming is to create an international
market in greenhouse gases. In this system, all countries agree to a global cap
on emissions. Each country then
gets the right to emit a portion of this global amount. If a country emits more than its
portion, it must buy more emission rights from other countries or else pay
stiff fines. In principle, how
much do you support or oppose an international market that allows countries to
buy and sell
greenhouse gases?”
|
|
Total |
Political ID |
Political Ideology |
Region |
|||||||
|
Dem |
Ind |
Rep |
Lib |
Mod |
Con |
NE |
S |
MW |
W |
||
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
|
Support (total) |
40 |
49 |
33 |
39 |
51 |
41 |
30 |
41 |
46 |
34 |
39 |
|
Strongly support |
13 |
12 |
16 |
11 |
15 |
15 |
9 |
14 |
9 |
17 |
12 |
|
Somewhat support |
27 |
37 |
17 |
27 |
36 |
26 |
21 |
27 |
37 |
17 |
27 |
|
Oppose (total) |
40 |
34 |
44 |
41 |
38 |
37 |
47 |
37 |
36 |
43 |
43 |
|
Somewhat oppose |
16 |
20 |
20 |
11 |
22 |
17 |
12 |
16 |
17 |
18 |
13 |
|
Strongly oppose |
23 |
14 |
25 |
30 |
16 |
21 |
35 |
21 |
19 |
25 |
31 |
|
Don't know |
18 |
15 |
21 |
19 |
10 |
20 |
23 |
22 |
16 |
19 |
16 |
Methodology
These results come from a national survey entitled “American Opinions on Global Warming,” which examined American risk perceptions, knowledge, policy preferences and behaviors regarding global climate change. From November 2002 to February 2003, 673 adults (18 and older) completed a mail-out, mail-back questionnaire, for a response rate of 55%. The results represent a random sample of residential addresses from all 50 states and are weighted to bring them in line with actual population proportions. All policy results derive from the subset of Americans who have heard of global warming (92%). For results based on the total sample of national adults, one can say with 95% confidence that the maximum margin of sampling error is +/- 4%. The study was conducted by the University of Oregon Survey Research Laboratory and funded by the National Science Foundation.