Climate Change in the American Mind:
Public Support for Climate & Energy Policies
in January 2010
Interview dates: December 24, 2009 – January 3, 2010
Interviews: 1,001 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 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
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]
Cite as: Leiserowitz, A., Maibach, E., & Roser-Renouf, C. (2010) Climate change in the American
Mind: Public support for climate & energy policies in January 2010. Yale University and George Mason
University. New Haven, CT: Yale Project on Climate Change.
http://environment.yale.edu/uploads/PolicySupportJan2010.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
2010*
13
25
31
31
2008+
21
33
30
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
2010
24
36
29
11
2008
-
(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
2010
12
34
35
8
10
2008
13
45
29
7
6
2010
14
36
30
10
10
2008
16
47
25
6
6
Your state legislators
Much more
More
Currently doing the right amount
Less
Much less
1
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
2
Your governor
Much more
More
Currently doing the right amount
Less
Much less
2010
15
34
30
10
11
2008
16
46
26
6
6
2010
19
35
23
10
15
2008
26
41
20
6
7
2010*
17
33
26
9
15
2008+
28
38
21
6
7
2010
33
31
21
7
9
2008
41
32
17
5
6
2010
27
36
23
7
8
2008
30
42
20
4
5
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
*President Barack Obama
+President George W. Bush
Corporations and industry
Much more
More
Currently doing the right amount
Less
Much less
Citizens themselves
Much more
More
Currently doing the right amount
Less
Much less
Yale / George Mason University
Public Support for Climate & Energy Policies
3
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
2010
57
2008
67
3
2
7
7
7
25
4
19
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
Yale / George Mason University
Public Support for Climate & Energy Policies
2010
26
36
21
18
2008
34
40
17
9
4
Specific Policies
For specific questions, see the tables below this chart.
Yale / George Mason University
Public Support for Climate & Energy Policies
5
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
2010
14
41
22
23
2008
19
43
21
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
2010
24
47
14
15
2008
30
50
13
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
2010
18
40
21
21
2008
31
41
17
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
2010
17
44
20
19
2008
24
44
19
13
Q175. How much do you support or oppose providing financial aid and technical support to
developing countries that agree to limit their greenhouse gas emissions?
Strongly support
Somewhat support
Somewhat oppose
Strongly oppose
Yale / George Mason University
2010
12
37
28
24
2008
-
Public Support for Climate & Energy Policies
6
Q176. How much do you support or oppose providing financial aid and technical support to
developing countries to help them prepare for the impacts of global warming?
Strongly support
Somewhat support
Somewhat oppose
Strongly oppose
2010
8
35
30
27
2008
-
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
2010
21
46
21
12
2008
37
38
14
11
Q178. How much do you support or oppose building more nuclear power plants?
Strongly support
Somewhat support
Somewhat oppose
Strongly oppose
2010
17
32
31
20
2008
23
38
24
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
2010
41
44
11
4
2008
54
38
6
2
Q180. How much do you support or oppose providing tax rebates for people who purchase
energy-efficient vehicles or solar panels?
Strongly support
Somewhat support
Somewhat oppose
Strongly oppose
Yale / George Mason University
2010
32
50
10
7
2008
38
47
11
4
Public Support for Climate & Energy Policies
7
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
2010
8
26
31
34
2008
9
24
30
37
Q182. How much, if anything, have you heard about a policy being considered by the president
and Congress called “cap and trade” that would set limits on carbon dioxide emissions?
Have you heard...
A lot
A little
Nothing at all
2010
12
28
60
2008
-
Q186. In the proposed cap and trade system, the government would set an overall limit on
global warming pollution (the cap), and the free market would figure out the best way to
stay within the limit (through the trading of permits among companies that emit global
warming pollution). How much would you support or oppose this system?
Strongly support
Somewhat support
Somewhat oppose
Strongly oppose
2010
7
51
21
20
2008
-
Q187. How much would you support or oppose a cap and trade system if it significantly reduced
global warming pollution, but raised your household energy costs by 15 dollars a month?
Strongly support
Somewhat support
Somewhat oppose
Strongly oppose
2010
10
30
29
32
2008
-
Q188. How much would you support or oppose a cap and trade system if it significantly reduced
global warming pollution, but raised your household energy costs by 50 cents a day?
Strongly support
Somewhat support
Somewhat oppose
Strongly oppose
Yale / George Mason University
2010
9
34
28
30
2008
-
Public Support for Climate & Energy Policies
8
Q189. How much would you support or oppose a cap and trade system if every American
household received a yearly [rebate/bonus] of $180 to offset their higher energy costs?
Rebate
Strongly support
Somewhat support
Somewhat oppose
Strongly oppose
2010
16
46
15
23
2008
-
2010
20
46
14
20
2008
-
Bonus
Strongly support
Somewhat support
Somewhat oppose
Strongly oppose
Q193. If your household received an annual energy [rebate/bonus] of $180 from a cap and trade
system, how likely is it that you would spend this money on energy efficiency
improvements in your home?
Rebate
Very likely
Somewhat likely
Somewhat unlikely
Very unlikely
2010
12
44
21
23
2008
-
2010
14
45
22
19
2008
-
Bonus
Very likely
Somewhat likely
Somewhat unlikely
Very unlikely
Yale / George Mason University
Public Support for Climate & Energy Policies
9
Q194. If the government offered to double your annual [rebate/bonus] to $360 if you spent it all
on energy efficiency improvements, how likely would you be to accept that offer?
Rebate
Very likely
Somewhat likely
Somewhat unlikely
Very unlikely
2010
26
42
13
19
2008
-
2010
33
38
13
15
2008
-
Bonus
Very likely
Somewhat likely
Somewhat unlikely
Very unlikely
Q192. A cap and trade system will likely cause some job losses, for example in coal mining, but
is expected to create jobs in industries like wind and solar power. Overall, do you think
that the cap and trade bill will:
Create more jobs than are lost
Lose more jobs than are created
Create and lose an equal number of jobs
Don’t know
2010
22
24
15
39
2008
-
Q190. How much would you support or oppose a cap and trade system if some of the revenues
were used to help build more nuclear power plants in the United States?
Strongly support
Somewhat support
Somewhat oppose
Strongly oppose
2010
9
35
33
24
2008
-
Q191. How much would you support building a nuclear power plant in your local area?
Strongly support
Somewhat support
Somewhat oppose
Strongly oppose
2010
14
27
25
34
2008
-
(Questions 192-238 to be released separately.)
Yale / George Mason University
Public Support for Climate & Energy Policies
10
Q239. Schools should teach our children about the causes, consequences, and potential solutions
to global warming.
Strongly agree
Somewhat agree
Somewhat disagree
Strongly disagree
2010
27
43
14
16
2008
-
Q240. Our government should establish programs to teach Americans about global warming.
Strongly agree
Somewhat agree
Somewhat disagree
Strongly disagree
2010
18
42
19
21
2008
-
Q241. Our government should establish programs to help Americans reduce their own
greenhouse gas emissions.
Strongly agree
Somewhat agree
Somewhat disagree
Strongly disagree
2010
15
50
18
17
2008
-
Q242. Our government should establish programs to teach Americans how to save energy.
Strongly agree
Somewhat agree
Somewhat disagree
Strongly disagree
2010
20
52
17
11
2008
-
Q243. Overall, do you think that protecting the environment…
Improves economic growth and provides new jobs
Reduces economic growth and costs jobs
2010
67
33
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
Yale / George Mason University
Public Support for Climate & Energy Policies
2010
63
37
2008
11
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
34
277
25
199
29
233
3
25
9
74
100
815
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 Avg
14
26
29
32
Dem
20
40
35
6
Ind
19
24
21
38
Rep
5
12
31
52
N/P
1
23
29
47
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
Nat’l Avg
24
37
28
11
Dem
35
47
17
1
Ind
27
30
29
14
Rep
11
31
44
14
N/P
9
39
21
31
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
2
3
Nat’l Avg
15
40
22
24
Dem
21
51
19
9
Ind
20
35
23
23
Rep
7
30
25
39
N/P
2
40
28
31
“Other” responses are not reported below due to their small sample size.
Labeled “N/P” below.
Yale / George Mason University
Public Support for Climate & Energy Policies
12
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
48
11
16
Dem
34
58
7
2
Ind
29
37
13
21
Rep
14
47
14
25
N/P
15
49
13
24
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
18
39
21
22
Dem
23
46
20
11
Ind
25
31
24
20
Rep
10
34
24
32
N/P
3
54
10
33
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
17
42
20
21
Dem
25
55
17
3
Ind
22
34
16
28
Rep
7
35
26
33
N/P
3
43
28
25
Q175. How much do you support or oppose providing financial aid and technical support to
developing countries that agree to limit their greenhouse gas emissions?
Strongly support
Somewhat support
Somewhat oppose
Strongly oppose
Nat’l Avg
12
36
26
27
Dem
19
51
24
7
Ind
15
29
25
32
Rep
6
26
28
41
N/P
0
40
27
33
Q176. How much do you support or oppose providing financial aid and technical support to
developing countries to help them prepare for the impacts of global warming?
Strongly support
Somewhat support
Somewhat oppose
Strongly oppose
Yale / George Mason University
Nat’l Avg
8
33
29
30
Dem
16
51
24
10
Ind
9
26
28
37
Rep
1
20
34
45
N/P
0
32
34
34
Public Support for Climate & Energy Policies
13
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
23
45
20
12
Dem
9
51
21
19
Ind
24
36
27
14
Rep
37
47
12
5
N/P
16
50
27
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
19
31
30
20
Dem
8
36
33
23
Ind
25
27
24
25
Rep
26
31
29
14
N/P
13
27
47
13
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
45
8
4
Dem
49
46
4
1
Ind
55
32
8
6
Rep
31
57
9
4
N/P
27
42
20
11
Q180. How much do you support or oppose providing tax rebates for people who purchase
energy-efficient vehicles or solar panels?
Strongly support
Somewhat support
Somewhat oppose
Strongly oppose
Nat’l Avg
34
50
10
7
Dem
40
57
3
1
Ind
39
40
14
7
Rep
27
53
10
10
N/P
20
44
23
14
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
8
25
31
36
Dem
12
34
29
26
Ind
12
19
34
35
Rep
3
22
27
47
N/P
3
22
46
29
Public Support for Climate & Energy Policies
14
Q182. How much, if anything, have you heard about a policy being considered by the president
and Congress called “cap and trade” that would set limits on carbon dioxide emissions?
Have you heard...
A lot
A little
Nothing at all
Nat’l Avg
14
31
56
Dem
4
37
59
Ind
25
34
41
Rep
14
28
58
N/P
5
16
78
Q186. In the proposed cap and trade system, the government would set an overall limit on
global warming pollution (the cap), and the free market would figure out the best way to
stay within the limit (through the trading of permits among companies that emit global
warming pollution). How much would you support or oppose this system?
Strongly support
Somewhat support
Somewhat oppose
Strongly oppose
Nat’l Avg
8
50
21
21
Dem
11
67
16
6
Ind
9
47
15
29
Rep
4
39
28
29
N/P
3
32
38
27
Q187. How much would you support or oppose a cap and trade system if it significantly reduced
global warming pollution, but raised your household energy costs by 15 dollars a month?
Strongly support
Somewhat support
Somewhat oppose
Strongly oppose
Nat’l Avg
10
28
30
32
Dem
15
37
30
18
Ind
14
28
27
30
Rep
1
17
37
46
N/P
3
22
25
50
Q188. How much would you support or oppose a cap and trade system if it significantly reduced
global warming pollution, but raised your household energy costs by 50 cents a day?
Strongly support
Somewhat support
Somewhat oppose
Strongly oppose
Yale / George Mason University
Nat’l Avg
9
32
28
32
Dem
12
50
26
12
Ind
14
27
17
42
Rep
3
25
29
43
N/P
5
11
47
37
Public Support for Climate & Energy Policies
15
Note: A split sample (n = 402 for rebate and n = 412 for bonus) was used for questions 189, 193 & 194
Q1894. How much would you support or oppose a cap and trade system if every American
household received a yearly [rebate/bonus] of $180 to offset their higher energy costs?
Rebate
Strongly support
Somewhat support
Somewhat oppose
Strongly oppose
Nat’l Avg
18
44
15
24
Dem
27
50
13
10
Ind
17
32
16
35
Rep
8
40
17
35
Nat’l Avg
21
46
13
21
Dem
26
58
11
5
Ind
30
38
13
20
Rep
9
52
14
25
Bonus
Strongly support
Somewhat support
Somewhat oppose
Strongly oppose
Q193. If your household received an annual energy [rebate/bonus] of $180 from a cap and trade
system, how likely is it that you would spend this money on energy efficiency
improvements in your home?
Rebate
Very likely
Somewhat likely
Somewhat unlikely
Very unlikely
Nat’l Avg
13
44
20
23
Dem
19
54
16
11
Ind
13
32
16
39
Rep
9
40
18
32
Nat’l Avg
13
44
22
21
Dem
13
52
29
5
Ind
16
49
18
17
Rep
10
41
16
33
Bonus
Very likely
Somewhat likely
Somewhat unlikely
Very unlikely
4
“N/P” responses are not reported for questions 189, 193 & 194 due to their small sample size.
Yale / George Mason University
Public Support for Climate & Energy Policies
16
Q194. If the government offered to double your annual [rebate/bonus] to $360 if you spent it all
on energy efficiency improvements, how likely would you be to accept that offer?
Rebate
Very likely
Somewhat likely
Somewhat unlikely
Very unlikely
Nat’l Avg
28
41
12
19
Dem
33
47
9
11
Ind
30
31
13
26
Rep
19
44
8
29
Nat’l Avg
35
37
13
16
Dem
43
40
13
5
Ind
44
32
11
14
Rep
19
50
11
21
Bonus
Very likely
Somewhat likely
Somewhat unlikely
Very unlikely
Q192. A cap and trade system will likely cause some job losses, for example in coal mining, but
is expected to create jobs in industries like wind and solar power. Overall, do you think
that the cap and trade bill will:
Create more jobs than are lost
Create and lose an equal number
of jobs
Lose more jobs than are created
Don't know
Nat’l Avg
24
Dem
33
Ind
28
Rep
16
N/P
7
16
14
16
20
13
25
35
13
40
32
25
33
32
24
56
Q190. How much would you support or oppose a cap and trade system if some of the revenues
were used to help build more nuclear power plants in the United States?
Strongly support
Somewhat support
Somewhat oppose
Strongly oppose
Nat’l Avg
9
35
31
25
Dem
9
40
35
17
Ind
12
32
23
33
Rep
6
36
36
22
N/P
10
28
33
29
Q191. How much would you support building a nuclear power plant in your local area?
Strongly support
Somewhat support
Somewhat oppose
Strongly oppose
Yale / George Mason University
Nat’l Avg
15
28
23
35
Dem
9
27
28
37
Ind
18
32
17
34
Rep
15
27
25
33
N/P
23
23
21
34
Public Support for Climate & Energy Policies
17
Q243. Overall, do you think that protecting the environment:
Improves economic growth and
provides new jobs
Reduces economic growth and
costs jobs
Nat’l Avg
Dem
Ind
Rep
N/P
68
86
64
55
49
33
14
36
46
51
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
Yale / George Mason University
Nat’l Avg
Dem
Ind
Rep
N/P
62
77
59
45
75
38
23
41
55
25
Public Support for Climate & Energy Policies
18