Global Warming: What You Need to Know

Public Opinion

Global Warming Polling Update: American Attitudes toward Climate Change

On Global Warming as a Serious Problem

• The American public is increasingly concerned about global warming, as reflected in recent poll results. In September 2007, 43% of Americans said climate change is their main environmental concern, up from 33% in April and 16% one year earlier.
  (Moore Information poll – September 20, 2007
  Washington Post/ABC News poll – April 20, 2007
  ABC News/Stanford University/Time poll – March 26, 2006)
  

• 70% of Americans agree “global warming is an environmental problem that is causing a serious impact now.”
  (CBS News poll – January 22, 2007)

On U.S. Climate Change Policies

• 66% of Americans agree, “The U.S. should reduce emissions of CO2 and other gases that may contribute to global warming, even if it does so by itself,” up from 52% in 2001.
  (CNN poll – October 19, 2007)

• 68% of Americans say the Bush Administration has not “done as much as it should to address climate change and reduce global warming.”
  57% of Americans think government should require power plants to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. (“Lowering the amount of greenhouse gases that power plants are allowed to release into the air is something government should require by law.”)
  (Moore Information poll – September 20, 2007)

• 72% say President Bush’s policies did “little” or “nothing” when asked, “During the past year, how much did President Bush’s policies do to help the natural environment?”
  84% want the President to do “a moderate amount,” “a lot,” or “a great deal” to help the natural environment.
  86% want Congress to do “a moderate amount,” “a lot,” or “a great deal” to help the natural environment.
  90% want American businesses to do “a moderate amount,” “a lot,” or “a great deal” to help the natural environment.
  90% want the American public to do “a moderate amount,” “a lot,” or “a great deal” to help the natural environment.
  “If nothing is done to reduce global warming in the future,” 79% say it will be a “very serious” (59%) or “somewhat serious” problem for the world.
  (AP/Ipsos poll, September 26)

On the 2008 Presidential Election

• 80% of Americans say a presidential candidate’s position on climate change will be a “moderately important,” “very important,” or “extremely important” factor in casting their vote for U.S. president in 2008.
  27% of Americans say a presidential candidate’s position on climate change will be an “extremely important” factor in casting their vote for U.S. president in 2008.
  (CNN poll – May 9, 2007)

• 83% of Americans say a presidential candidate’s position on “the environment and global warming” will be a “moderately,” “very,” or “extremely important” factor in casting their vote for U.S. president in 2008.
  (CBS News poll – October 19, 2007)

From “Less Talk, More Walk: Americans Want Action on The Environment,”
September 27, 2007, NationalJournal.com:

Add the American public to the list of those clamoring for the U.S. to take a role in protecting the environment. While some have accused the president of being reluctant to do more than just talk about climate change, recent polling data suggest American voters are eager for some form of greener government. A new poll conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs for the Associated Press and Stanford University found widespread public support for federal action to help the environment, even as most respondents were pessimistic about what's been done so far.

Participants generally took a grim view of the state of the planet, with more than a third rating the current condition of the environment as poor and another third rating it only fair. Only about one in five thought the environment was doing well, and the majority of respondents believed both that the environment is worse off now than it was 10 years ago and that it will get worse in 10 more years.

Next: Editorials supporting action to curb global warming (January–December 2007)