climate change in the american mind - yale program on...

climate change

in the american mind

Americans’ climate change beliefs, attitudes,policy preferences, and actions

This study was conducted by the Yale Project on Climate Change and the George MasonUniversity Center for Climate Change Communication, and was funded by the Yale Cen-ter for Environmental Law & Policy, the Betsy and Jesse Fink Foundation, the SurdnaFoundation, the 11th Hour Project, and the Pacific Foundation.

Principal Investigators:

Anthony Leiserowitz, PhD Yale Project on Climate ChangeSchool of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Yale University (203) 432-4865 [email protected]

Edward Maibach, MPH, PhDCenter for Climate Change CommunicationDepartment of Communication, George Mason University(703) 993-1587 [email protected]

Connie Roser-Renouf, PhDCenter for Climate Change CommunicationDepartment of Communication, George Mason University(707) [email protected]

2 climate change in the american mind

A project of this size, scope, and duration requires the hard work and commitment ofmany people. We would especially like to thank C.K. Mertz of Decision Research; JoeGarrett, Bill McCready and Sergei Rodkin of Knowledge Networks; Dan Esty and MelissaGoodall of the Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy; Gus Speth, Dean of theYale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies; Lisa Fernandez of the Yale Project onClimate Change; Tim Northrop and Eugenie Gentry of the Yale School of F&ES Devel-opment O∞ce; Bud Ward of the Yale Forum on Climate Change & the Media; DavidFenton of Fenton Communications; and our financial sponsors: the Betsy and Jesse FinkFoundation, the Surdna Foundation, the 11th Hour Project, and the Pacific Foundation.Last, but certainly not least, we thank our families for their steadfast love and support.

acknowledgments

beliefs, attitudes, policy preferences, actions 3

Executive Summary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Methods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

part 1: Should global warming be a priority for the new president and Congress? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

part 2: Should elected o∞cials, businesses, and ordinary people be doingmore or less to address global warming?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

part 3: Do Americans support policies to address climate change and energy? . . . . 14

part 4: What reasons do Americans find most convincing, either for or against action to reduce global warming? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

part 5: How many Americans have taken political or consumer actionrelated to global warming? How many want to, and what preventsthem from acting? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

part 6: What do Americans believe about the reality and risks of globalwarming? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

part 7: Do Americans feel well informed about global warming anddo they want more information? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

part 8: Can the world reduce global warming? Can individuals make adi≠erence? Will technology alone solve the problem or will Americansneed to change their lifestyles? How will this a≠ect their quality of life? . . . 39

part 9: Whom do Americans trust for information about global warming?. . . . . . . 42

Appendix A: Survey Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Appendix B: Survey Demographics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

contents


In September and October of 2008 a research team from Yale and George Mason Uni-versities conducted a nationally representative survey of 2,164 American adults. Surveyparticipants were asked about their issue priorities for the new administration and Con-gress, support and opposition regarding climate change and energy policies, levels of po-litical and consumer activism, and beliefs about the reality and risks of global warming.

Overall, the survey found that concerns about the economy dwarfed all other issues: 76percent of Americans said that the economy was a “very high” priority. Global warmingranked 10th out of 11 national issues; nonetheless it remains a high or very high nationalpriority for a majority of Americans. In addition, 72 percent of Americans said that theissue of global warming is important to them personally.

In line with these concerns, large majorities of Americans said that everyone - companies,political leaders at all levels of government, and individual citizens - should do more toreduce global warming. Likewise, despite the economic crisis, over 90 percent of Amer-icans said that the United States should act to reduce global warming, even if it has eco-nomic costs. This included 34 percent who said the U.S. should make a large-scale e≠ort,even if it has large economic costs.

Americans strongly supported unilateral action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions: 67%said the United States should reduce its emissions of greenhouse gases, regardless of whatother countries do, while only 7 percent said we should act only if other industrialized anddeveloping countries (such as China, India, and Brazil) reduce their emissions.

Americans also strongly supported a wide variety of climate change and energy policies:

• 92 percent supported more funding for research on renewable energy sources, such assolar and wind power;

• 85 percent supported tax rebates for people buying energy e∞cient vehicles or solarpanels;

• 80 percent said the government should regulate carbon dioxide as a pollutant;• 69 percent of Americans said the United States should sign an international treaty that

requires the U.S. to cut its emissions of carbon dioxide 90% by the year 2050.

Large majorities of Americans also supported policies that had a directly stated economiccost. For example:

• 79 percent supported a 45 mpg fuel e∞ciency standard for cars, trucks, and SUVs,even if that meant a new vehicle cost up to $1,000 more to buy;

• 72 percent supported a requirement that electric utilities produce at least 20 percent of

executive summary


their electricity from wind, solar, or other renewable energy sources, even if it cost theaverage household an extra $100 a year;

• 72 percent supported a government subsidy to replace old water heaters, air condi-tioners, light bulbs, and insulation, even if it cost the average household $5 a month inhigher taxes;

• 63 percent supported a special fund to make buildings more energy e∞cient and teachAmericans how to reduce their energy use, even if this cost the average household $2.50 amonth in higher electric bills.

At the time of the survey, nationwide retail gas prices were approximately $3.25/gallonand energy had become a major issue in the presidential campaign. Within this context,respondents also supported a variety of other energy policies:

• 75 percent supported the expansion of o≠shore drilling for oil and natural gas o≠ theU.S. coast;

• 61 percent supported the building of more nuclear power plants;• 57 percent supported drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge;• Only 33 percent, however, supported increasing taxes on gasoline by 25 cents per gal-

lon and returning the revenues to taxpayers by reducing the federal income tax.

Finally, this study found relatively weak support for a national cap and trade system. Only53 percent of Americans supported the creation of a new national market that allows com-panies to buy and sell the right to emit greenhouse gases. Further, this proposal was stronglysupported by only 11 percent of Americans, while it was strongly opposed by 23 percent.

The study also identified the positive outcomes that Americans expect if the nation takessteps to reduce global warming, as well as the outcomes that were most important tothem. Two-thirds said that reducing global warming would provide a better life for ourchildren and grandchildren (66%) and would save many plant and animal species fromextinction (65%). About half said that it would improve people’s health (54%), free usfrom dependence on foreign oil (48%), or protect God’s creation (48%). Of these, theoutcomes subsequently selected as the most important personally were providing a bet-ter life for our children and grandchildren (25%) and protecting God’s creation (19%).

Americans’ primary concerns about taking action to reduce global warming were that itwould lead to more government regulation (44%), cause energy prices to rise (31%), orcost jobs and harm our economy (17%). However, among those who foresaw both pos-itive and negative outcomes, 92 percent said that despite their concerns, the nation shouldact to reduce global warming.


Regarding political activism, 8 percent of Americans said they had contacted governmento∞cials in the past year urging them to take action on climate change, while 18 percentsaid they intend to do so more often over the next 12 months – a large potential issuepublic. Educating, organizing, and mobilizing this issue public, however, will require aconcerted e≠ort.

Regarding consumer activism, 33 percent of Americans said they had rewarded companiesthat are taking action to reduce global warming by buying their products, while 24 per-cent said they had punished companies opposing steps to reduce global warming by boy-cotting their products. Importantly, 48 percent – nearly half of the country – said theyare willing to reward or punish companies for their climate change-related activities overthe next 12 months, a potentially dramatic increase in consumer pressure on companiesto act. The primary barrier preventing most Americans from punishing companies thatoppose action on climate change was simply knowledge: 68 percent said they did notknow which companies to punish. Again, translating this willingness to reward or pun-ish companies into concrete consumer behavior will largely depend on the success or fail-ure of e≠orts to educate, organize, and mobilize this large and growing market force.

Overall, large majorities of Americans were convinced about the reality and risks of globalwarming: 69 percent were convinced it is happening, while 62 percent believed it iscaused by human activities, or a combination of human and natural changes. Likewise,63 percent were worried about global warming and majorities considered it a seriousthreat, but most perceived global warming as a relatively distant problem that will pri-marily impact other people, places and species far away. Americans, however, did per-ceive it as an imminent threat: 51 percent said global warming is already having dangerousimpacts on people around the world, or will within the next 10 years. Likewise, majori-ties of Americans believed that within the next 20 years, global warming will cause moredroughts and water shortages, severe heat waves, intense hurricanes, the extinction ofplant and animal species, intense rainstorms, famines and food shortages, forest fires,and the abandonment of some large coastal cities due to rising sea levels, if nothing isdone to address it. At the same time, however, Americans had little to no understandingof the potential health impacts of global warming. Finally, many Americans said theywanted additional information about the causes, potential impacts, and solutions to theproblem.

Americans were still uncertain about whether humanity can and will act to reduce globalwarming: 51 percent said we have the ability, but were unsure whether we actually will.Only 6 percent were fully confident. At the same time, a large majority of Americans(69%) believed that individual action can make a di≠erence, while a similar majority


(70%) believed the ultimate solution will require much more than just new technologi-cal innovations – it will also require significant changes in American lifestyles. A major-ity, however, said that these lifestyle changes would either improve their own quality oflife (31%) or have no impact on it (32%).

Finally, the study investigated whom Americans trust as sources of information aboutglobal warming. It found that 82 percent of Americans trusted scientists, followed byfamily and friends (77%), environmental organizations (66%) and television weatherreporters (66%). About half of Americans trusted religious leaders (48%) or the main-stream news media (47%). Only 19 percent of Americans trusted corporations as a sourceof information. Al Gore was viewed as a trusted source by 58 percent of Americans, lead-ing both Barack Obama (51%) and John McCain (38%). Following President Obama’selection, however, it is likely that trust in him as a source of information about globalwarming has grown.

Thus, it is clear that American opinion about global warming is solidifying. Majoritiesnow believe it is real, happening, human caused, and a serious threat. Likewise, majori-ties want their elected o∞cials at all levels to take more action and support a variety ofpolicies to reduce national greenhouse gas emissions. Growing numbers of Americansare also willing to express their views politically and through their consumer purchases.Thus there is now a large and growing issue public in support of concerted local, state,and national action, but this public remains relatively disorganized. The success or fail-ure of climate change action in the United States will depend, in no small part, on the abil-ity of leaders, organizations, and institutions at all levels of society to e≠ectively educate,organize, and mobilize the American public.


President Obama, the leaders of Congress, governors, and mayors across the UnitedStates have all signaled their intention to institute new policies to achieve greater nationalenergy e∞ciency and independence, development of clean, renewable energy sources,and reduced emissions of the greenhouse gases causing global warming. Climate changeand energy are now at the center of local, state, national, and international policy delib-erations. An e≠ective national strategy to achieve these aims, however, must take into ac-count the climate change and energy beliefs, attitudes, policy preferences, and actions ofthe American people, who will play a crucial role in the success or failure of these initia-tives through their decisions as both citizens and consumers. Building public acceptance,support, and demand for new policies and helping people save energy at home and on theroad will require education and communication strategies based on a clear understand-ing of what Americans already know, believe, and support, as well as what they currentlymisunderstand, disbelieve, and oppose. This report is the second in a series of studiesconducted by the Yale Project on Climate Change and the George Mason Center for Cli-mate Change Communication to answer these questions.

introduction


In September and October of 2008, a nationally representative survey of 2,164 Americanadults was conducted by researchers at Yale and George Mason Universities. Respon-dents completed two separate questionnaires, two weeks apart, using the nationally rep-resentative online panel of Knowledge Networks.1 The within-panel completion rate was54 percent.

Survey questions covered a range of topics related to global warming and energy, in-cluding:

• Issue priorities• Policy preferences• Reasons for and against action• Political and consumer activism• Beliefs• Risk perceptions• Desire for more information• Achievability of emission reductions• Trust in di≠erent messengers.

The exact wording of all the survey questions used in this report is presented in Appen-dix A. Survey demographics are presented in Appendix B.

methods

1 See http://www.knowledgenetworks.com/ganp/index.html for more information about the Knowledge Networksmethodology.


The economy was clearly Americans’ top priority for the new president and Congress: 76percent said it was a very high priority (Fig. 1). All other issues paled by comparison, in-cluding global warming, which ranked 10th out of 11 national issues. Nonetheless, 54percent of Americans said that global warming was still a high (33%) or very high (21%)national priority, while only 17 percent said that it was a low priority.

Compared to other environmental issues, global warming received more “very high” pri-ority ratings than all other issues, with the exception of water pollution (Fig. 2). Thus,while global warming clearly remains a national concern, it was a lower priority thanmany other issues that were viewed as either more urgent (the economy) or closer tohome (water pollution). In line with these results, 72 percent of Americans said that globalwarming was either extremely (11%), very (21%), or somewhat important (40%) to thempersonally (Fig. 3). By contrast, less than a third said that the issue was either not tooimportant (18%) or not at all important (11%) to them personally.

part 1:

Should global warming be a priorityfor the new president and Congress?


LowMediumHighVery high

Abortion 13% 42%16% 28%

GlobalWarming 21% 17%33% 30%

IllegalImmigration 28% 12%30% 30%

Tax Cuts 30% 6%36% 28%

Education 32% 5%42% 21%

SocialSecurity

40% 1%41% 17%

Terrorism 41% 3%37% 19%

Health Care 45% 4%35% 16%

War in Iraq& Afghanistan

45% 3%39% 13%

Federal Deficit 49% 1%37% 13%

Economy 76% 1%20% 3%

Figure 1: National Issue PrioritiesHere are some issues now being discussed in Washington, D.C. Do you think each of these issuesshould be a low, medium, high, or very high priority for the next president and Congress?

N=2,164

WaterPollution

GlobalWarming

Toxic Waste

Ozone Damage

Air Pollution

Rain Forests

Extinctions

Urban Sprawl

Acid Rain

30%

27%

26%

25%

24%

12%

19%

14%

13%

LowMediumHighVery high

16%

14%

17%

18%

16%

12%

6%

6%

5%42% 24%

30% 28%

39% 28%

32% 31%

40%

33%

29%

27%

30%

32%

36%

41%

31% 40%

Figure 2: National Environmental PrioritiesHere are some environmental issues now being discussed in Washington, D.C. Do you think each ofthese issues should be a low, medium, high, or very high priority for the next president and Congress?

N=2,164


0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

Somewhatimportant

Extremelyimportant

11%

Veryimportant

21%

40%

Not tooimportant

18%

Not at allimportant

11%

Figure 3: Personal Importance of Global WarmingHow important is the issue of global warming to you personally?

N=2,164

Americans strongly supported additional action by companies, political leaders, and in-dividual citizens. Respondents were asked if they wanted their local government o∞cials,state legislators, governor, the U.S. Congress, corporations and businesses, and citizensthemselves to do more, the same, or less to address global warming. A large majority ofAmericans said that corporations and businesses (76%) and the U.S. Congress (67%)should do more to address global warming (Fig. 4). Likewise, majorities wanted theirlocal government o∞cials to do more as well. Interestingly, a large majority (72%) saidthat citizens themselves should be doing more to address global warming, demonstrat-ing that Americans believed that all levels of society should be part of the solution. By con-trast, only a very small minority of respondents said that political leaders and companiesshould do less about global warming.

part 2:

Should elected o∞cials, businesses,and ordinary people be doing moreor less to address global warming?


Should doless

Should domuch less

Doing theright amount

Should domore

Should domuch more

Figure 4: Who Should Act to Address Global Warming?Do you think the following should be doing more or less to address global warming?

Your localgovernment

officials

Your governor

Your statelegislators

U.S. Congress

CitizensThemselves

Corporations& business 41%

30%

26%

16%

16%

13%

6%

5%

7%

6%

6%

6%

5%

5%

6%

6%

6%

7%

17%

20%

20%

25%

26%

29%

32%

42%

41%

47%

46%

45%

N=2,164

Despite the economic crisis, over 90 percent of Americans said that the United Statesshould act to reduce global warming, even if it has economic costs (Fig. 5). This included34 percent that said the U.S. should make a large-scale e≠ort to reduce its emissions, evenif it has large economic costs, while another 40 percent said that the U.S. should make amedium-scale e≠ort, even if it has moderate economic costs. Only 9 percent said the U.S.should make no e≠ort at all to reduce its emissions.

The study also assessed whether the American public agreed with the tenets of the 1997Byrd-Hagel non-binding Senate Resolution. Just prior to the 1997 Kyoto climate summit,the U.S. Senate passed a non-binding resolution (95-0) co-sponsored by Senators RobertByrd (D) of West Virginia and Chuck Hagel (R) of Nebraska, which urged the Clintonadministration to not accept any treaty that did not include the “meaningful” participa-tion of all developing as well as industrialized countries, arguing that to do so would un-fairly put the U.S. at a competitive disadvantage.

Only 7 percent of Americans agreed with the statement “the U.S. should reduce its green-house gas emissions only if other industrialized and developing countries (such as China,India, and Brazil) reduce their emissions” (Fig. 6). By contrast, 67 percent of Americanssaid “the U.S. should reduce its greenhouse gas emissions regardless of what other coun-tries do.” While it is doubtful that most Americans understand the potential economic im-plications of unilateral action, one interpretation for these results is that many Americansconsider this as an issue of individual (country) responsibility. In other words, if theUnited States is contributing to the problem, it has a responsibility to clean up after it-self.

The survey also asked Americans how much they supported or opposed a wide variety ofclimate change policies, including possible regulations, subsidies, tax incentives, researchand development funding, and international treaties. Overall, there was broad-based, bi-partisan support for most policy options, with the notable exception of a higher gas tax(Fig. 7). A cap and trade market-based system also received relatively weak support as de-scribed further below.

Very large majorities of Americans supported a variety of climate change policies:

• 92 percent said the government should increase funding for research into renewableenergy sources, such as solar and wind power;

• 85 percent supported tax rebates for people buying energy e∞cient vehicles or solarpanels;

• 80 percent said the government should regulate carbon dioxide (the primary green-house gas) as a pollutant;

part 3:

Do Americans support policiesto address climate change and energy?


• 69 percent of Americans said the United States should sign an international treaty thatrequires the U.S. to cut its emissions of carbon dioxide 90% by the year 2050.

Importantly, large majorities of Americans also said they would support policies thatwould personally cost them more. For example:

• 79 percent supported a 45 mpg fuel e∞ciency standard for cars, trucks, and SUVs,even if that meant a new vehicle cost up to $1,000 more to buy;

• 72 percent supported a Renewable Portfolio Standard that required electric utilities toproduce at least 20 percent of their electricity from wind, solar, or other renewable en-ergy sources, even if it cost the average household an extra $100 a year;

• 72 percent supported a government subsidy to replace old water heaters, air condi-tioners, light bulbs, and insulation, even if it cost the average household $5 a month inhigher taxes;

• 63 percent supported establishment of a special fund to make buildings more energye∞cient and teach Americans how to reduce their energy use, even if this cost the aver-age household $2.50 a month in higher electric bills.

At the time of the survey, nationwide retail gas prices were approximately $3.25/gallonand energy had become a major issue in the presidential campaign. Within this context,respondents also supported a variety of other energy policies:

• 75 percent supported the expansion of o≠shore drilling for oil and natural gas o≠ theU.S. coast;

• 61 percent supported the building of more nuclear power plants;• 57 percent supported drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge;• Only 33 percent, however, supported increasing taxes on gasoline by 25 cents per gal-

lon and returning the revenues to taxpayers by reducing the federal income tax.

Finally, there was relatively weak public support for a national cap and trade system,which is one of the major policies currently being considered by the U.S. Congress andsupported by President Obama. Only 53 percent of Americans supported the creation of“a new national market that allows companies to buy and sell the right to emit the green-house gases said to cause global warming. The federal government would set a nationalcap on emissions. Each company would then purchase the right to emit a portion of thistotal amount. If a company then emitted more than its portion, it would have to buymore emission rights from other companies or pay large fines.” This proposal wasstrongly supported by only 11 percent of Americans, while it was strongly opposed by 23percent. These results suggest that the public remains uncertain about a cap and trade sys-tem to reduce national emissions of carbon dioxide.



0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

No effortA small-scaleeffort, even ifit has small

economic costs

A medium-scaleeffort, even if

it has moderateeconomic costs

A large-scaleeffort, even if

it has largeeconomic costs

9%

40%

17%

34%

Figure 5: Desired Scale of Action by the United StatesHow big of an effort should the United States maketo reduce global warming?

N=2,164

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Don’t knowThe US shouldnot reduce

its emissions

Only if otherindustrializedcountries and

developingcountries (suchas China, India

and Brazil)reduce theiremissions

Only if otherindustrialized

countries (suchas England,

Germany andJapan) reduce

their emissions

Regardlessof what othercountries do

20%

4%7%2%

67%

Figure 6: Unilateral Action or Only if Other Countries Act?People disagree whether the United States should reduce greenhouse gasemissions 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…

N=2,164


Stronglyoppose

Somewhatoppose

Somewhatsupport

Stronglysupport

Fund buildingefficiency

Create nationalcarbon market

Increase gastax by 25 cents

20% 16%43% 21%

Build more nuclearpower plants 23% 15%38% 24%

9% 37%24% 30%

11% 23%42% 24%

Drill for oil in ArcticNational Wildlife Refuge 25% 22%32% 22%

Sign internationaltreaty to cut emissions 25% 13%44% 19%

Subsidize homeefficiency improvements 27% 12%45% 15%

Regulate CO2 30% 7%50% 13%

Require utilities toproduce 20% clean energy 31% 11%41% 17%

Expandoffshore drilling 37% 11%38% 14%

Provide tax rebates forefficient cars and solar panels 38% 4%47% 11%

Require increasedfuel-efficiency in cars 41% 8%38% 13%

Fund renewableenergy research 53% 2%39% 6%

Figure 7: Policy PreferencesHow much do you support or oppose the following policies?(These questions appeared in a random order.)

N=2,164

Respondents were asked to complete the statement, “If our nation takes steps to reduceglobal warming, it will …” They were then shown a list of potential positive and nega-tive outcomes and asked to select all those outcomes that they believed were true (Fig. 8).They were next shown a list of all the positive outcomes they had selected and asked topick the three reasons for action that were most important to them. Then, of these threereasons, they selected the one that was most important to them.

They were next shown a list of all the negative outcomes they had selected and asked topick the three that were of greatest concern. Of these three concerns, they selected the onethat was most important to them. Finally, those respondents who had selected at least onepositive and one negative outcome were shown their top reason and top concern andasked, in light of these two potential outcomes, whether the United States should act ornot act to reduce global warming.

Majorities of Americans were most likely to believe that taking action to reduce globalwarming would provide a better life for our children and grandchildren (66%), savemany plant and animal species from extinction (65%), improve people’s health (60%),create green jobs and a stronger economy (54%), and prevent the destruction of most lifeon the planet (50%) (Fig. 8). Slightly less than half of Americans believed that actionwould help free us from dependence on foreign oil (48%) or protect God’s creation (48%).Only 17 percent thought that action to reduce global warming would improve our na-tional security. When asked to choose the most important reason among those they hadselected, Americans were most likely to choose providing a better life for our childrenand grandchildren (25%), followed by protection of God’s creation (19%), and prevent-ing the destruction of most life on the planet (15%) (Fig. 9).

By contrast, less than half of Americans said that taking action to reduce global warmingwould lead to more government regulation (44%), cause energy prices to rise (31%), costjobs and harm our economy (17%), interfere with the free market (13%), harm poor peo-ple more than it helps them (11%), or undermine American sovereignty (8%) (Fig. 8).When asked to choose the most important reason for not acting among those they hadselected, respondents were most likely to say that they were concerned that taking actionto reduce global warming would lead to more government regulation (54%), whilesmaller proportions said they were most concerned that action would cause energy pricesto rise (24%) or cost jobs and harm our economy (10%) (Fig. 10). Thus, the primarysource of public resistance to climate change policy in the United States appears to bebased on a concern that it will lead to increased government control and regulation.

part 4:

What reasons do Americans find most compelling, either for or againstaction to reduce global warming?


Overall, 39 percent of respondents selected at least one positive reason for action and nonegative reasons, while only 11 percent selected at least one negative reason and no posi-tive reasons for action (Fig. 11). An additional 44 percent selected at least one positivereason for national action and one reason not to act. These respondents were then askedto compare their top reasons for and against action and decide whether the United Statesshould act. A very large majority of these respondents (92%) said that the nation shouldact to reduce global warming despite their concerns (Fig. 12).


Cause energy prices to rise

Improve our national security

Cost jobs and harm our economy

Interfere with the free market

Harm poor people morethan it helps them

Undermine American sovereignty

31%

Save many people around the worldfrom poverty and starvation

34%

Protect the world's poorest peoplefrom environmental harm caused

by the world's richest people35%

Lead to more government regulation 44%

Protect God's creation 48%

8%

11%

13%

17%

17%

Help free us fromdependence on foreign oil 48%

Prevent the destruction ofmost life on the planet 50%

Create green jobs anda stronger economy 54%

Improve people's health 60%

Save many plant and animalspecies from extinction 65%

Provide a better life for ourchildren and grandchildren 66%

Figure 8: Potential Outcomes of Action to Reduce Global WarmingPlease check all of the answers below that you believe are true.If our nation takes steps to reduce global warming, it will …

N=2,164

Improve our national security

Save many people around the worldfrom poverty and starvation

1%

Protect the world's poorest peoplefrom environmental harm caused

by the world's richest people1%

4%

Protect God's creation

7%

Help free us fromdependence on foreign oil

8%

Prevent the destruction ofmost life on the planet

9%

Create green jobs anda stronger economy

10%Improve people's health

15%

Save many plant and animalspecies from extinction

19%

Provide a better life for ourchildren and grandchildren 25%

Figure 9: Most Important Reason to ActOf the reasons you selected, which one is most important to you personally?

Base = Respondents who chose at least one positive outcomeN = 1,572 (73% of the total sample).

Cause energy prices to rise

Cost jobs and harm our economy

Interfere with the free market

Harm poor people morethan it helps them

Undermine American sovereignty

Lead to more government regulation

3%

5%

5%

10%

24%

54%

Figure 10: Most Important Concern Regarding ActionOf the things you selected which one is of greatest concern to you personally?

Base = Respondents who chose at least one negative outcomeN = 904 (42% of the total sample).



Selectedneither a

positive nora negative

reason

Selectedat least one

negativereason and no

positive reason

Selectedat least onepositive andone negative

reason;concludes U.S.should not act

Selectedat least onepositive andone negative

reason;concludes U.S.

should act

Selectedat least onepositive andno negative

reasons

6%

11%

3%

41%39%

Figure 11: Reasons and Conclusions About U.S. Action

N=2,164

0

10

20

30

40

50

0

100

Should not take stepsto reduce global warming

Should take stepsto reduce global warming

8%

92%

Figure 12: Weighing the Reasons For and Against,Should the U.S. Act?Which of the following two statements do you find the most convincing?• We should take steps to reduce global warming because it will (insert respondent’s top reason for action)• We should not take steps to reduce global warming because it will (insert respondent’s top concern about action)

Base = Respondents who selected at least one reason for actionand one concern from the list in Figure 8; N=953 (44% of the total sample).

Politically, 8 percent of Americans said they had contacted government o∞cials urgingthem to take action on climate change in the past year while 89 percent said they hadnever done so (Fig. 13). Importantly, 13 percent of Americans said they intend to con-tact government o∞cials more often in the coming year (Fig. 15). When those Ameri-cans who said they had already contacted government o∞cials and intend to continuedoing so at the same rate are included, this figure rises to 18 percent who are willing tourge government o∞cials to take action – a potential 125 percent increase from the currentlevel of political activism.

When respondents were asked why they hadn’t contacted government o∞cials aboutglobal warming, 33 percent said they do not consider themselves activists, while 22 per-cent said that it wouldn’t make any di≠erence even if they did (Fig. 16). Smaller pro-portions said that they are simply too busy (18%), it’s too much e≠ort (16%), or theydon’t know how (17%). However, 21 percent said that nothing prevents them from con-tacting their government o∞cials to take action. Thus, translating this apparent will-ingness to engage the political system into concrete action will largely depend on thesuccess or failure of e≠orts to educate, organize, and mobilize this issue public.

In terms of consumer behavior, 33 percent of Americans said they had rewarded compa-nies that are taking action to reduce global warming by buying their products, while 24percent said they had already punished companies that are opposing steps to reduceglobal warming by boycotting their products (Fig. 14). Importantly, 40 percent of Amer-icans said they intend to both reward and punish companies more frequently in the com-ing year (Fig. 15). When those Americans who said they were already rewarding andpunishing companies and intend to continue doing so at the same rate are included, thisfigure rises to 48 percent – nearly half of the country – who say they are willing to reward orpunish companies for their climate change-related activities. This represents a potential 100percent increase or doubling of the current rate of consumer boycotting behavior - a po-tentially dramatic increase in consumer pressure on corporations to act.

Critically, however, the primary barrier preventing most Americans from punishing com-panies that oppose action on climate change is simply knowledge: 68 percent said theydon’t know which companies to punish (Fig. 17). By contrast, less than a quarter felt thatthey could not a≠ord to target companies or that these actions would have no impact oncorporate behavior. Again, however, translating this apparent willingness to reward orpunish companies into actual consumer behavior will probably depend largely on thesuccess or failure of e≠orts to educate, organize, and mobilize this large market force.

part 5:

How many Americans have taken political orconsumer action related to global warming? Howmany want to, and what prevents them from acting?


Don’tknow

NeverOnceA fewtimes(2–3)

Severaltimes(4–5)

Manytimes(6+)

1% 1% 3% 3% 3%

Figure 13: Political ActivismOver the past 12 months, how many times have you written letters,emailed, or phoned government officials to urge them to take actionto reduce global warming?

N=2,164

0

20

40

60

80

100

89%


Figure 14: Consumer ActivismOver the past 12 months, how many times have you done these things?

Rewarded companies that are taking steps to reduce global warming by buying their products.

Punished companies that are opposing steps to reduce global warming by NOT buying their products.

N=2,164

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Don’t knowNeverOnceA few times(2–3)

Several times(4–5)

Many times(6+)

9%

17%

47%

54%

20%22%

11%

6%4% 3% 3%

5%

Less frequentlythan now

About the sameas now

More frequentlythan now

Figure 15: Activism Intentionsover the Next Twelve Months

Write letters, email, or phone government officials to urge themto take action to reduce global warming

Buy the products of companies that are taking stepsto reduce global warming

Punish companies that are opposing steps to reduce global warmingby NOT buying their products

N=2,164

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

13%

40% 40%

71%

56%53%

17%

4%7%


Someone else in myhome would object

I don’t think it’s important

I would feel uncomfortable

I do not believe in global warming

It’s too much effort

I don’t know how

I’m too busy

It wouldn’t make anydifference if I did

I am not an activist

Nothing would stop me fromcontacting government officials 21%

33%

22%

18%

17%

16%

10%

10%

10%

1%

Figure 16: Barriers to Political ActivismThere are many reasons why people do not write letters, emails, or call theirelected officials about global warming. Which of the following reasons mightprevent you from taking these actions? Please check all that apply.

N=2,164

Someone else in myhome would object

Other

I’m too busy

It’s too much effort

We don’t need toreduce global warming

It would be inconvenient

I don’t think it’simportant to do this

My actions won’t have anyinfluence on a company

I can’t afford to do this

I don’t know whichcompanies to punish 68%

23%

22%

13%

11%

7%

7%

5%

5%

2%

Figure 17: Barriers to Consumer ActivismWhich of the following reasons might prevent you from punishing companiesthat oppose steps to reduce global warming? Check all that apply.

N=2,164


part 6:

What do Americans believe aboutthe reality and risks of global warming?

2 Reported in: Leiserowitz, A. (2007) American opinions on global warming. A Yale University / Gallup / ClearVision Institute Poll. New Haven, CT: Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies. http://environment.yale.edu/news/5305/american-opinions-on-global-warming/


Overall, a large majority (69%) of Americans were convinced that global warming is hap-pening, while only a small minority (10%) were unconvinced (Fig. 18). Surprisingly,however, only 47 percent believed that there is a consensus among the scientific commu-nity, while 33 percent of Americans believed there is a lot of disagreement among scien-tists over whether global warming is occurring (Fig. 19). Thus, many Americans appearto have already made up their minds, drawing on other sources of information, withoutwaiting for a perceived scientific consensus. Further, 62 percent of Americans believedthat global warming is caused mainly by human activities (57%), or caused equally by hu-mans and natural changes (5%), while 32 percent believed it is caused mostly by naturalchanges in the environment (Fig. 20).

A majority of Americans (63%) said they were worried about global warming, while 37percent said they were not (Fig. 21). Yet only 17 percent of Americans said they were “veryworried” about global warming, which may be due, in part, to the fact that many Amer-icans believed that global warming is a greater threat to other species, people and placesfar away in time and space, but not so serious of a threat to themselves, their own fami-lies, or local communities (Fig. 22). For example, majorities of respondents said thatglobal warming will harm other animal and plant species (62%) or future generations agreat deal or moderate amount (61%). By contrast, far fewer respondents said globalwarming will harm them or their families a great deal or moderate amount (32 and 35%respectively). Likewise, 33 percent of Americans agreed that they had already personallyexperienced the e≠ects of global warming (Fig. 23). A large majority (67%), however,disagreed – another indication that most Americans perceive climate change as a spa-tially distant problem.

Over the past several years, however, Americans have increasingly perceived global warm-ing as an imminent threat. For example, this study found that 51 percent of Americans be-lieved that global warming is already having dangerous impacts on people around theworld (30%) or will within the next ten years (18%) (Fig. 24): a 20 percentage point in-crease in their sense of threat immediacy since the question was asked in a nationally rep-resentative survey in June, 2004 2. Likewise, 47 percent believed that global warming isalready having dangerous impacts on people in the United States (34%) or will within thenext ten years (13%).

In line with this sense of more imminent threat, a majority of Americans (62% to 65%)said that worldwide, over the next 20 years, global warming will cause more droughts andwater shortages, severe heat waves, intense hurricanes, the extinction of plant and animalspecies, intense rainstorms, famines and food shortages, and forest fires if nothing is


done to address it (Fig. 25). Majorities (51% to 53%) also believed that it will cause moredisease epidemics, refugees, and people living in poverty. By contrast, almost no one (1%or less) believed that global warming will actually cause fewer of these problems. Smallerproportions (14% to 23%) believed global warming will not a≠ect these issues one wayor the other, while others (19% to 27%) simply did not know enough to even guess. More-over, a majority of Americans believed that global warming will cause melting ice caps andglaciers (74%) expanding deserts (61%), and the abandoning of large coastal cities dueto rising sea levels (57%) over the next 20 years (Fig. 26).

At the same time, however, Americans had little to no understanding of the potentialhealth impacts of global warming. When asked to estimate how many people currentlydie each year due to global warming, nearly half (48%) simply said they did not know,while an additional 23 percent said none (Fig. 27). When asked to estimate how many arelikely to die each year due to global warming 50 years from now, half (50%) again saidthey did not know, while an additional 14 percent said none. Likewise, when asked to es-timate the current and future numbers of people injured or made ill each year by globalwarming, again large proportions said either none or that they did not know (Fig. 28).These findings clearly demonstrate a major gap in public understanding of this risk.

Extremely sure it's not happening 3%

Very sure it's not happening 3%

Somewhat sure it's not happening 4%

Not at all sure it's not happening 1%

Don't know 19%

Not at all sure it's happening 3%

Somewhat sure it's happening 17%

Very sure it's happening 27%

Extremely sure it's happening 25%

Figure 18: The Reality of Global WarmingRecently, you may have noticed that global warming has been getting someattention in the news. Global warming refers to the idea that the world’s averagetemperature has been increasing over the past 150 years, may be increasing morein the future, and that the world’s climate may change as a result.

• What do you think? Do you think that global warming is happening? (yes, no, don’t know)

• How sure are you that global warming is happening? (asked if respondent believed global warming is occurring.)

• How sure are you that global warming is not happening? (asked if respondent believed global warming is not occurring.)

N=2,164


0

10

20

30

40

50

Don't knowenough to say

Most scientiststhink globalwarming is

not happening

There isa lot of

disagreement

Most scientiststhink globalwarming ishappening

18%

33%

3%

47%

Figure 19: Perceptions of Scientific ConsensusWhich comes closer to your own view?(the first and second responses were randomized)• Most scientists think global warming is happening • Most scientists think global warming is not happening• There is a lot of disagreement among scientists about whether or not global warming is happening• Don't know enough to say

N=2,164


0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Caused mostlyby naturalchanges in

environment

32%

Causedmostly by

humanactivities

57%

Neitherbecause

global warmingisn't happening

4%

Caused byhuman

activities andnatural changes

(volunteered)

5%

Don’t know

1%

Other

1%

Figure 20: The Cause of Global WarmingIf global warming is happening, do you think it is:(the first and second responses were randomized)• Caused mostly by human activities• Caused mostly by natural changes in the environment• Other • None of the above because global warming isn’t happening

N=2,164

0

10

20

30

40

50

Veryworried

17%

Not veryworried

24%

Somewhatworried

46%

Not at allworried

13%

Figure 21: WorryHow worried are you about global warming?

N=2,164


Not at allOnly a little Don’t knowA moderateamount

A great deal

Figure 22: Who Will Be Harmed by Global Warming?How much do you think global warming will harm …

N=2,164

0

20

40

60

80

10020% 22% 24% 24% 22% 23% 23% 23%

9% 10% 13% 13% 14% 17% 19% 22%

8% 7%11% 13% 15%

20% 23%24%

17% 17%

22%28% 28%

26%24%

22%

45% 44%

31%

22% 21%

13% 11% 10%

Youpersonally

Yourfamily

Yourcommunity

Peoplein the US

Peoplein other

industrializednations

People indevelopingcountries

Futuregenerations

of people

Plant andanimalspecies

0

10

20

30

40

50

Stronglyagree

4%

Somewhatdisagree

43%

Somewhatagree

29%

Stronglydisagree

24%

Figure 23: Personal ExperienceI have personally experienced the effects of global warming.

N=2,164


Figure 24: Timing of ImpactsWhen do you think global warming will start to harm people in the United States?

When do you think global warming will start to harm other people around the world?

N=2,164

10%

They will neverbe harmed

They will beharmed in 100 years




They are beingharmed now

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

34%

38%

13% 13% 13% 12%13%

12% 12% 11%15% 14%


A few lessNo differenceA few moreMany more Don’t knowMany less

43% 22% 14% 19%

42% 24% 14% 19%

39% 23% 15% 22%

41% 24% 14% 19%

39% 24% 15% 20%

39% 24% 15% 21%

38% 24% 16% 21%

31% 22% 20% 26%

32% 19% 20% 27%

33% 18% 23% 25%

Figure 25: Perceived Frequency of ImpactsWorldwide over the next 20 years, do you think global warming will cause more or less of the following, if nothing is done to address it?

N=2,164

People livingin poverty

Refugees

Diseaseepidemics

Forest fires

Famines & foodshortages

Intenserainstorms

Extinction of plantand animal species

Intensehurricanes

Severeheat waves

Droughts &water shortages

Veryunlikely

Somewhatunlikely

Don’t knowSomewhatlikely

Verylikely

Figure 26: Likelihood of ImpactsWorldwide over the next 20 years, how likely do you think it is that global warming willcause each of the following if nothing is done to address it?

N=2,164

0

20

40

60

80

10020%

10%

13%

25%

32%

16%

6%4%

20%

54%

Melting ice caps and glaciers Abandoning large coastalcities due to rising sea levels

22%

9%

8%

30%

31%

Expanding deserts

NoneHundreds Don’t knowThousandsMillions

Figure 27: Estimated FatalitiesNow please think about the human health effects of global warming.(Please choose the answer corresponding to your best estimate.) Worldwide, how many people do you think…• Currently die each year due to global warming?• Will die each year 50 years from now due to global warming?

N=2,164

50%

14%

8%

17%

11%

48%

23%

12%

14%

3%

In 50 yearsCurrent0

20

40

60

80

100


Figure 28: Estimated Injuries and IllnessesNow please think about the human health effects of global warming.(Please choose the answer corresponding to your best estimate.) Worldwide, how many people do you think…• Are currently injured or become ill each year due to global warming?• Will be injured or become ill each year 50 years from now due to global warming?

N=2,164

0

20

40

60

80

10050%

15%

8%

15%

13%

46%

21%

13%

15%

5%

In 50 yearsCurrent

NoneHundreds Don’t knowThousandsMillions


The survey also assessed whether Americans felt well informed about climate change,how much they had thought about it or discussed it with family and friends, whetherthey desired more information, and how easily they could change their minds. Overall,the results suggest that national opinions about global warming are in the process of so-lidifying, yet many Americans still want additional information about the causes, poten-tial impacts, and solutions to the problem.

Majorities of Americans said that they were fairly to very well informed about the di≠erentcauses (62%), consequences (62%), and solutions to global warming (65%) (Fig. 29).However, only 11 to 12 percent said that they were very well informed about these. Sim-ilarly, only 20 percent of Americans said they had thought a lot about global warming,with another 35 percent that said they had thought about it some (Fig. 30). Another 45percent, however, had either not thought about it at all (12%) or just a little (33%). Like-wise, most Americans reported that they rarely (33%) or never (27%) discuss globalwarming with their family and friends, while only 5 percent said they discuss it very often(Fig. 31). Further, most Americans (64%) said that they had not spoken to anyone aboutglobal warming in the prior two weeks – another indication that while global warmingremains a national priority, it is not part of everyday conversation for most Americans(Fig. 32).

Respondents were also asked how much more information they would need in order toform a firm opinion about global warming. More than half said that they either needed“a lot more” (30%) or “some more” information (30%), while only 18 percent said theydid not need any more information at all (Fig. 33). Although many Americans said theywould like more information about global warming, most felt relatively certain abouttheir beliefs nonetheless. Only 5 percent strongly agreed that they could easily changetheir mind about global warming, with another 28 percent that somewhat agreed (Fig.34). By contrast, 34 percent strongly disagreed that they could change their minds, whileanother 34 percent somewhat disagreed. Thus 68 percent of Americans felt relatively cer-tain about their current beliefs, again suggesting that public opinion about this issue issolidifying, although many are still open and want to learn more.

part 7:

Do Americans feel well informed about globalwarming and do they want more information?


Not at allinformed

Not very wellinformed

Fairly wellinformed

Very wellinformed

Figure 29: Self-Assessed Knowledge of Global WarmingPersonally, do you think that you are well informed or not about…• The different causes of global warming• The different consequences of global warming• Ways in which we can reduce global warming

N=2,164

8%

27%

53%

12%

9%

30%

50%

12%

9%

29%

51%

11%

Ways to reduceConsequencesCauses0

20

40

60

80

100


0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

A lot

20%

A little

33%

Some

35%

Not at all

12%

Figure 30: Thought Devoted to Global WarmingHow much had you thought about global warming before today?

N=2,164

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

Very often

5%

Rarely

33%

Occasionally

36%

Never

27%

Figure 31: Frequency of DiscussionHow often do you discuss global warming with your family and friends?

N=2,164


0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

More than 10

2%

1 to 4

31%

5 to 10

3%

0

64%

Figure 32: Number of DiscussionsHow many people have you spoken with about global warmingin the past two weeks?

N=2,164

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

I do not needany more

information

I needa little moreinformation

I needsome moreinformation

I needa lot more

information

18%

30%

22%

30%

Figure 33: Need for InformationOn some issues people feel that they have all the informationthey need in order to form a firm opinion, while on other issuesthey would like more information before making up their mind.For global warming, where would you place yourself?

N=2,164

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Stronglyagree

5%

Somewhatdisagree

34%

Somewhatagree

28%

Stronglydisagree

34%

Figure 34: Certainty of OpinionI could easily change my mind about global warming.

N=2,164



part 8:

Can the world reduce global warming? Can individualsmake a di≠erence? Will technology alone solve the problem or will Americans need to change theirlifestyles? How will this a≠ect their quality of life?

The survey also investigated whether Americans believed it is possible to reduce globalwarming and whether the world will actually do it. Only 6 percent of Americans saidthey were confident that humanity can and will reduce global warming successfully (Fig.35). Over half (51%) were unsure and said that while humanity could reduce global warm-ing, it is still unclear at this point whether we will do what is needed. By contrast, 22 per-cent said that even though humanity could reduce global warming, people are not willingto change their behavior, so the world is not going to act. Finally, 16 percent said thateven if global warming is happening, humans cannot reduce it, while a smaller 5 percentsimply said that global warming is not happening. Thus Americans appear relatively splitbetween hope on the one hand and pessimism on the other.

At the same time, however, most Americans believed that individual action can make adi≠erence. A large majority (69%) somewhat to strongly disagreed with the fatalisticstatement, “The actions of a single person won’t make any di≠erence in global warming”(Fig. 36). Finally, most Americans did not believe that technology alone can solve theproblem. Only 30 percent strongly (4%) or somewhat agreed (26%) with the statement:“New technologies can solve global warming without individuals having to make bigchanges to their lives” (Fig. 37). Thus 70 percent of Americans expected that the ultimatesolution will require much more than just new technological innovations – it will also re-quire significant changes in our lifestyles.

Respondents were then asked whether changing their own lifestyle to reduce their per-sonal contribution to global warming would a≠ect their quality of life. Nearly a third(31%) of Americans said that lifestyle changes to reduce global warming would actuallyimprove their quality of life, while another third (32%) said these changes would have noimpact (Fig. 38).


0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Humans couldreduce globalwarming, butpeople aren't

willing to changetheir behavior, sowe're not going to

Humans canreduce globalwarming, and

we are going todo so successfully

6%

Humans couldreduce globalwarming, butit's unclear at

this point whetherwe will do

what's needed

51%

22%

Humans can'treduce global

warming, even ifit is happening

16%

Global warmingisn't happening

5%

Figure 35: Can and Will the World Reduce Global Warming?Which of the following statements comes closest to your view?

N=2,164

0

10

20

30

40

50

Stronglyagree

24%

Somewhatdisagree

22%

Somewhatagree

45%

Stronglydisagree

9%

Figure 36: Can Individuals Make a Difference?The actions of a single person won’t make any differencein global warming.

N=2,164

0

10

20

30

40

50

Stronglyagree

4%

Somewhatdisagree

46%

Somewhatagree

26%

Stronglydisagree

25%

Figure 37: Will Technology AloneSolve the Problem?New technologies can solve global warming, without individualshaving to make big changes in their lives.

N=2,164


0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Have noimpact on myquality of life

Improve myquality of life

a little

Decrease myquality of life

a little

Improve myquality of life

a lot

Decrease myquality of life

a lot

I don’t know

25%

3%

9%

32%

19%

12%

Figure 38: How Would Lifestyle Changes to ReduceGlobal Warming Affect Your Quality of Life?If you were to change your lifestyle to reduce your personal contribution to global warming, how do you think it would it affect your quality of life?

N=2,164


Global warming joins a long list of other hazards of the modern world that are scientifi-cally complex and uncertain, and about which most people know relatively little. Whichrisks should one be concerned about? How high of a priority are they? What should in-dividuals and societies do about them? In these situations, many individuals look totrusted individuals, organizations, or institutions to help guide them through an uncer-tain landscape. Thus, the messenger is often just as important (if not more so) than themessage itself.

Overall, the study found that 82 percent of Americans trusted scientists (Fig. 39), fol-lowed by family and friends (77%), environmental organizations (66%) and televisionweather reporters (66%) as a source of information about global warming. About half ofAmericans trusted religious leaders (48%) or the mainstream news media (47%). Only19 percent of Americans, however, trusted corporations as a source of information, while33 percent strongly distrusted them. Al Gore was trusted by 58 percent of Americans,leading both Barack Obama (51%) and John McCain (38%). Following President Obama’selection, however, it is likely that trust in him as a source of information about globalwarming has grown.

part 9:

Whom do Americans trustfor information about global warming?


Stronglydistrust

Somewhatdistrust

Somewhattrust

Stronglytrust

14% 26%37% 23%Barack Obama

15% 22%43% 20%Al Gore

17% 14%49% 20%Environmentalorganizations

28% 4%54% 14%Scientists

Familyand friends 13% 4%64% 19%

Televisionweather reporters 6% 10%60% 25%

Religiousleaders 5% 22%43% 30%

John McCain 4% 25%34% 37%

The mainstreamnews media 4% 20%43% 33%

Corporations

1%

33%18% 49%

Figure 39: TrustHow much do you trust or distrust the following as a source of information about global warming?(randomized)

N=2,164


appendix a:

Survey questions

note: Questions used in this report are selected from a longer survey containing over 300questions. The question order shown below follows the results presented in this reportand does not correspond to the order in which these questions were asked.

1. Here are some issues now being discussed in Washington, D.C. Do you think each ofthese issues should be a low, medium, high, or very high priority for the next presi-dent and Congress? (randomized; results shown in Figure 1)• Education• Health care• Social Security• The federal budget deficit• Terrorism• Global warming• Tax cuts• The economy• Illegal immigration• The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan• Abortion

2. Here are some environmental issues now being discussed in Washington, D.C. Doyou think each of these issues should be a low, medium, high, or very high priority forthe next president and Congress? (randomized; results in Figure 2)• Water pollution• Toxic waste• Air pollution• Damage to the earth’s ozone layer• Loss of tropical rain forests• Extinction of plant and animal species• Urban sprawl and loss of open spaces• Global warming• Acid rain

3. How important is the issue of global warming to you personally? (Figure 3)• Not at all important • Not too important • Somewhat important• Very important• Extremely important


4. Do you think the following should be doing more or less to address global warming?Response options: Much less; less; currently doing the right amount; more; muchmore (Figure 4)• Your local government o∞cials• Your state legislators• Your Governor• The U.S. Congress• Corporations and industry• Citizens themselves

5. How big of an e≠ort should the United States make to reduce global warming? (Fig-ure 5)• No e≠ort• A small-scale e≠ort, even if it has small economic costs• A medium-scale e≠ort, even if it has moderate economic costs• A large-scale e≠ort, even if it has large economic costs

6. People disagree whether the United States should reduce greenhouse gas emissions onits own, or make reductions only if other countries do too. Which of the followingstatements comes closest to your own point of view? (Figure 6)

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) re-

duce 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


7. How much do you support or oppose the following policies? (Response options: Stronglysupport; somewhat support; somewhat oppose; strongly oppose; randomized; Figure 7)

Policies that Would Increase Energy and Fuel Efficiency:• Require automakers to increase the fuel e∞ciency of cars, trucks, and SUVS, to 45

mpg, even if it means a new vehicle will cost up to $1,000 more to buy.• Provide tax rebates for people who purchase energy-e∞cient vehicles or solar pan-

els.• Provide a government subsidy to replace old water heaters, air conditioners, light

bulbs, and insulation. This subsidy would cost the average household $5 a monthin higher taxes. Those who took advantage of the program would save money ontheir utility bills.

• Establish a special fund to help make buildings more energy e∞cient and teachAmericans how to reduce their energy use. This would add a $2.50 surcharge tothe average household’s monthly electric bill.

Policies to Establish Regulations and International Treaties• Regulate carbon dioxide (the primary greenhouse gas) as a pollutant.• Sign an international treaty that requires the United States to cut its emissions of

carbon dioxide 90% by the year 2050.

Policies that Would Support Renewable Energy • Require 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.

• Fund more research into renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power.

Policies that Would Put a Price on Carbon• Create a new national market that allows companies to buy and sell the right to

emit the greenhouse gases said to cause global warming. The federal governmentwould set a national cap on emissions. Each company would then purchase theright to emit a portion of this total amount. If a company then emitted more thanits portion, it would have to buy more emission rights from other companies orpay large fines.

• Increase taxes on gasoline by 25 cents per gallon and return the revenues to tax-payers by reducing the federal income tax.

Policies that Would Exploit Existing Energy Sources• Expand o≠shore drilling for oil and natural gas o≠ the U.S. coast. • Drill for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.• Build more nuclear power plants.


8. Please check all of the answers below that you believe are true.If our nation takes steps to reduce global warming, it will … (Randomized; results shownin Figure 8.)• Help free us from dependence on foreign oil• Improve people’s health• Improve our national security• Create green jobs and a stronger economy• Save many plant and animal species from extinction• Protect God’s creation• Save many people around the world from poverty and starvation• Provide a better life for our children and grandchildren• Prevent the destruction of most life on the planet• Protect the world’s poorest people from harm caused by the world’s richest people• Cost jobs and harm our economy• Lead to more government regulation• Undermine American sovereignty• Cause energy prices to rise• Interfere with the free market• Harm poor people more than it helps them• Other [ text box]• Refusal

9. Which of the following reasons to reduce global warming are most important to you?Please select up to three [if only two responses were chosen, the screen said “two”] rea-sons. (Question was asked of respondents who had selected more than one positiveoutcome. Results not presented.)

10.Of the reasons you selected, which one is most important to you personally? (Positiveoutcomes from Question 9 were displayed; Figure 9)

11. Which of the following things that might result from taking steps to reduce globalwarming are of the greatest concern to you? Please select up to three [if only two neg-ative outcomes were chosen, screen said “two”] things. (Question was asked of re-spondents who had selected more than one negative outcome. Results not presented.)

12. Of the things you selected which one is of greatest concern to you personally? (Figure10)


13. Which of the following two statements do you find the most convincing? (Figures 11& 12)• We should not take steps to reduce global warming because it will [insert respon-

dent’s top reason for action]• We should take steps to reduce global warming because it will [insert respondent’s

top concern about acting]

14.Over the past 12 months, how many times have you done each of the following? (Re-sponse options: Never; once; a few times; several times; many times; don’t know. Results inFigure 13.)• Written letters, emailed, or phoned government o∞cials to urge them to take ac-

tion to reduce global warming?

15. Over the past 12 months, how many times have you done these things? (Response op-tions: Never; once; a few times; several times; many times; don’t know. Results in Figure14.)• Rewarded companies that are taking steps to reduce global warming by buying

their products.• Punished companies that are opposing steps to reduce global warming by NOT

buying their products.

16.Over the next 12 months, would you like to do each of the following…. (Response op-tions: Less frequently, about the same, more frequently. Results in Figure 15.)• Write letters, email, or phone government o∞cials to urge them to take action to

reduce global warming?

17. Over the next 12 months, would you like to punish companies that are opposing stepsto reduce global warming by NOT buying their products… (Response options: Less fre-quently, about the same, more frequently. Results in Figure 15.)

18.Over the next 12 months do you intend to buy the products of companies that are tak-ing steps to reduce global warming… (Response options: Less frequently, about the same,more frequently. Results in Figure 15.)


19. There are many reasons why people do not write letters, emails, or call their electedo∞cials about global warming. Which of the following reasons might prevent youfrom taking these actions? Please check all that apply. (Figure 16)• It’s too much e≠ort• I would feel uncomfortable• It wouldn’t make any di≠erence if I did• I don’t know how• I’m too busy• Someone else in my home would object• I don’t think it’s important• I am not an activist• I do not believe in global warming• Other [text box]• None of the above would prevent me from doing this

20.Which of the following reasons might prevent you from punishing companies that op-pose steps to reduce global warming? Check all that apply. (Figure 17)• I don’t know which companies to punish• I can’t a≠ord to do this• My actions won’t have any influence on a company• It would be inconvenient• It’s too much e≠ort• I’m too busy• Someone else in my home would object if I did this• I don’t think it’s important to do this• We don’t need to reduce global warming• Other [text box]

21. Recently, you may have noticed that global warming has been getting some attentionin the news. Global warming refers to the idea that the world’s average temperature hasbeen increasing over the past 150 years, may be increasing more in the future, and thatthe world’s climate may change as a result.What do you think? Do you think that global warming is happening? (Response op-tions: yes, no, don’t know. Results in Figure 18.)

22.How sure are you that global warming is happening? (Asked if respondent answered“yes” to question 21. Response options: extremely sure; very sure; somewhat sure; not at allsure. Results in Figure 18.)


23.How sure are you that global warming is not happening? (Asked if respondent answered“no” to question 21. Response options: extremely sure; very sure; somewhat sure; not at all sure.Results in Figure 18.)

24.Which comes closer to your own view? (First and second response option rotated. Resultsin Figure 19.)• Most scientists think global warming is happening.• Most scientists think global warming is not happening.• There is a lot of disagreement among scientists about whether or not global warm-

ing is happening.• Don't know enough to say

25.Assuming global warming is happening, do you think it is… (Figure 20)• Caused mostly by human activities• Caused mostly by natural changes in the environment• Other (Please specify)• None of the above because global warming isn’t happening

26.How worried are you about global warming? (Figure 21)• Very worried• Somewhat worried• Not very worried• Not at all worried

27.How much do you think global warming will harm: (Response options: Not at all; onlya little; a moderate amount; a great deal; don’t know. Results in Figure 22)• You personally• Your family• Your community• People in the United States• People in other modern industrialized countries• People in developing countries • Future generations of people• Plant and animal species


28.I have personally experienced the e≠ects of global warming. (Figure 23)• Strongly agree• Somewhat agree• Somewhat disagree• Strongly disagree

29.When do you think global warming will start to harm people in the United States?(Figure 24)• They are being harmed now• In 10 years• In 25 years• In 50 years• In 100 years• Never

30.When do you think global warming will start to harm other people around the world?(Figure 24)• They are being harmed now• In 10 years• In 25 years• In 50 years• In 100 years• Never

31. Worldwide over the next 20 years, do you think global warming will cause more or lessof the following, if nothing is done to address it? (Response options: Many less; a few less;no di≠erence; a few more; many more; don’t know. Results in Figure 25.)• Intense hurricanes • Extinctions of plant and animal species • Famines and food shortages • Droughts and water shortages • People living in poverty• Refugees• Severe heat waves• Forest fires• Dease epidemics• Floods


32.Worldwide over the next 20 years, how likely do you think it is that global warmingwill cause each of the following if nothing is done to address it? (Response options: Veryunlikely; somewhat unlikely; somewhat likely; very likely; don’t know. Results in Figure 26.)• Expanding deserts• Melting ice caps and glaciers• Abandoning large coastal cities due to rising sea levels

33.Now please think about the human health e≠ects of global warming. (Please choosethe answer corresponding to your best estimate.)

Worldwide, how many people do you think … (Response options: None; hundreds, thou-sands; millions; don’t know. Results in Figure 27 & 28.)• Currently die each year due to global warming?• Are currently injured or become ill each year due to global warming?• Will die each year 50 years from now due to global warming?• Will be injured or become ill each year 50 years from now due to global warming?

34.Personally, how well informed do you feel you are about … (Response options: Not atall informed; not very well informed; fairly well informed; very well informed. Results in Fig-ure 29.)• The di≠erent causes of global warming• The di≠erent consequences of global warming• Ways in which we can reduce global warming

35.How much had you thought about global warming before today? (Figure 30)• Not at all• A little• Some • A lot

36.How often do you discuss global warming with your family and friends? (Figure 31)• Never • Rarely • Occasionally• Very often


37. How many people have you spoken with about global warming in the last two weeks?(Figure 32)• 0• 1-4• 5-10• More than 10

38.On some issues people feel that they have all the information they need in order toform a firm opinion, while on other issues they would like more information beforemaking up their mind. For global warming, where would you place yourself? (Figure33)• I need a lot more information• I need some more information • I need a little more information• I do not need any more information

39.I could easily change my mind about global warming. (Figure 34)• Strongly agree• Somewhat agree• Somewhat disagree• Strongly disagree

40.Which of the following statements comes closest to your view? (Figure 35)• Global warming isn’t happening• Humans can’t reduce global warming, even if it is happening• Humans could reduce global warming, but people aren’t willing to change their

behavior, so we’re not going to• Humans could reduce global warming, but it’s unclear at this point whether we

will do what’s needed• Humans can reduce global warming, and we are going to do so successfully


41.The actions of a single individual won’t make any di≠erence in global warming. (Fig-ure 36)• Strongly agree• Somewhat agree• Somewhat disagree• Strongly disagree

42.New technologies can solve global warming, without individuals having to make bigchanges in their lives. (Figure 37)• Strongly agree• Somewhat agree• Somewhat disagree• Strongly disagree

43. If you were to change your lifestyle to reduce your personal contribution to globalwarming, how do you think it would it a≠ect your quality of life? (Figure 38)• Improve my quality of life a lot• Improve my quality of life a little• Have no impact on my quality of life• Decrease my quality of life a little• Decrease my quality of life a lot• I don’t know

44.How much do you trust or distrust the following as a source of information aboutglobal warming? (Response options: Strongly distrust; somewhat distrust; somewhat trust;strongly trust. Order of the first seven sources was randomized, and the list ended with BarackObama & John McCain. Results in Figure 39.)• Family & friends• Environmental organizations• Corporations• Religious leaders• Scientists• The mainstream news media• Television weather reporters• Barack Obama• John McCain

Political Orientation

N=2,164

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

Party ID

Republican

Democrat

Independent

Other

No party / notinterested in politics

Political orientation

Very liberal

Somewhat liberal

Middle of the road

Somewhat conservative

Very conservative

Registered voter

27%

39%

21%

2%

11%

6%

21%

43%

21%

9%

84%

Demographics

N=2,164

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

Ethnicity

White, non-Hispanic

Black, non-Hispanic

Hispanic

Other

Education

Less than high school

High school

Some college

Bachelor's degree or higher

Age

18-29

30-44

45-59

60+

Female

Married

Home owners

Currently working

52%

49%

74%

58%

21%

27%

28%

24%

13%

32%

28%

27%

69%

11%

13%

6%

appendix b:

Survey demographics


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