Here’s a finding that shouldn’t be all that surprising: Since 1991, roughly 97 percent of all published scientific papers that take a position on the question agree that humans are warming the planet. That stat comes from this extensive new survey led by John Cook and Dana Nuccitelli, who run [...] Read more »
Public Opinion on Fracking: Perspectives from Michigan and Pennsylvania
… This report examines public opinion in Michigan and Pennsylvania on a series of issues concerning the impact of fracking on the economy, environmental protection, and information disclosure. Pennsylvania and Michigan have been selected as the focus of this report because they represent states with varied levels of hydraulic fracturing [...] Read more »
Extreme Weather and Climate Change in the American Mind
In Spring 2013, we conducted our latest national survey on Americans’ climate change and energy beliefs, attitudes, policy support, and behavior. The first report focuses on Americans’ beliefs about extreme weather and climate change. We found that about six in ten Americans (58%) say “global warming is affecting weather in [...] Read more »
Political ideology affects energy-efficiency attitudes and choices
This research demonstrates how promoting the environment can negatively affect adoption of energy efficiency in the United States because of the political polarization surrounding environmental issues. Study 1 demonstrated that more politically conservative individuals were less in favor of investment in energy-efficient technology than were those who were more politically [...] Read more »
Fracking opinions at tipping point
… A March poll, taken by the Pew Research Center, shows a plurality of American adults nationwide favoring fracking. … From the energy industry’s perspective, as well as my own, this plurality support should be encouraging. But unless public opinion is managed with diligence, this support could wither. [cont.] David Hill [...] Read more »
How Americans see global warming — in 8 charts
Earth Day organizers have dedicated the celebration’s 43rd anniversary to highlighting the impact of climate change. Even though President Obama made mention of the issue in his second inaugural address and his 2013 State of the Union speech, climate change has a long way to go to be a top-of-the-mind [...] Read more »
US and Canadian Views on Energy Policy
A new study examining energy policy suggests that energy security trumps the concern about greenhouse gas emission among both Americans and Canadians. The study, completed by Nik Nanos, a public policy scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington D.C., included polling data among Americans and Canadians. [...] Read more »
Americans Still Divided on Energy-Environment Trade-Off
Americans divide evenly when asked whether the U.S. should prioritize energy production (46%) or environmental protection (45%) when the goals conflict. From 2001 to 2008, Americans consistently came down on the side of the environment. Since 2009, they have been divided or shown a slight preference for energy production — [...] Read more »
Republican Skepticism Toward Global Warming Eases
Democrats and Republicans retain markedly different views about global warming, with 75% of Democrats versus 40% of Republicans saying they personally worry about it a “great deal” or “fair amount.” Both groups’ levels of concern about global warming have fluctuated in recent years. Republicans — as well as independents, at [...] Read more »
Public Opinion on Global Warming Is Easier to Change Than Science
If you’re curious what a motivated political campaign to undermine established science looks like, allow Gallup and its new poll of climate change attitudes to demonstrate. … For a long time, advocates of climate action have hoped that at least once the effects of climate change become obvious, people would [...] Read more »