The overwhelming majority of Americans support action to limit carbon pollution and move the U.S. toward a clean energy future, according to a new poll (PDF) released before the holidays by National Wildlife Federation.
American voters demonstrate a strong desire for the U.S. to transition toward a low-carbon economy, with strong support among Independents:
- Strikingly, 82% voters and 80% of Independents support the U.S. government increasing investment in clean energy sources.
- 67% of voters and 67% of Independents support the U.S. government limiting carbon pollution and other gases that may cause global warming.
The polling also showed that the majority of Americans believe global warming is happening despite recent controversies surrounding climate scientists, though there is a strong partisan divide. Democrats and Independents overwhelmingly acknowledging global warming is real while Republicans remain significantly less united in their skepticism:
- Two-thirds of registered voters (67%) believe global warming is happening, just 31% do not think global warming is happening
- Among Democrats: 91% believe global warming is happening, 8% don’t
- Among Independents: 64% believe, 32% do not
- Among Republicans: 43% believe, 54% do not
The poll was conducted by the Benenson Strategy Group. 1,000 interviews were conducted with registered voters nationwide from December 12-15, 2009.
“The American people can’t be more clear when it comes to solving
global warming: they want the U.S. to be Rudolph out in front of the
sleigh, leading the world toward a clean energy future,” said Jeremy
Symons, senior vice president of NWF. “There is overwhelming public
support for the Senate to pass legislation with firm limits on carbon
pollution that will stimulate massive new investments in clean energy
technologies.”
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