Yet Another Poll (from Yale) Shows Wide Support for Strong Climate and Energy Policies, Including Cap & Trade
A new poll conducted by Yale University and George Mason University researchers shows that American voters do want strong climate and energy legislation.
“Climate Change in the American Mind: Public Support for Climate & Energy Policies in January 2010” is the name of the poll and it shows bi-partisan support for more clean energy research, controlling CO2 in our atmosphere, and (once informed on what it is) cap-and-trade legislation, among other things.
Whereas a poll I reported on the other day showed much stronger support for a carbon tax when compared to cap-and-trade (once survey respondents were informed a little on the two systems), this poll does not get into the issue of a carbon tax but finds great support for cap-and-trade.
This survey also received answers from just over 1,000 respondents with a margin of error of +/- 3 percentage points (same as the carbon tax vs cap & trade poll). It was conducted more recently — December 24, 2009 to January 3, 2010 compared to August 24-31, 2009. Like the other study, this study found strong support for addressing climate change and encouraging clean energy through climate and energy legislation.
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64% thought that corporations and industry should be doing “more” or “much more” than they currently are “to address global warming”.
60% of respondents thought that “developing sources of clean energy” should be a “high” or “very high” priority for the president and Congress.
57% thought that “The United States should reduce its greenhouse gas emissions regardless of what other countries do.”
Cap & Trade
62% supported Cap & Trade if “every American household received a yearly [rebate/bonus] of $180 to offset their higher energy costs.”
58% supported Cap & Trade (with only an explanation of the system, no mention of cost or rebate).
40% supported Cap & Trade “if it significantly reduced global warming pollution, but raised your household energy costs by 15 dollars a month” (without the $180 rebate mentioned above).
Other Specific Government Measures
85% of respondents supported funding renewable energy research.
82% supported tax rebates for solar panels and efficient cars.
71% supported regulating CO2.
70% thought that “Schools should teach our children about the causes, consequences, and potential solutions to global warming.”
65% thought that “Our government should establish programs to help Americans reduce their own greenhouse gas emissions.”
61% supported signing an international treaty.
60% thought that “Our government should establish programs to teach Americans about global warming.”
57% supported requiring utilities to produce 20% clean energy.
Economy and the Environment
67% thought that “protecting the environment improves economic growth and provides new jobs.”
63% thought that when there is a conflict between environmental protection and economic growth “protecting the environment, even if it reduces economic growth” is more important.
It looks like Americans are still supporters of protecting the environment, cutting climate change pollution, and strong government action to do so or to help Americans do so.
Related Stories:
1) “Carbon Tax” More Popular than “Cap-and-Trade” with US Voters
2) Hollywood Getting into the Action [Video]
3) Who’s More Powerful than Obama?
4) Who Wants a Climate & Energy Bill? 83 Leading US Companies
Image Credit: farlane via flickr
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