TODAY’S STUDY: A LOT OF GOOD QUESTIONS AND SOME INTERESTING ANSWERS

Climate Change in the American Mind: Public Support for Climate & Energy Policies in November 2011
November 16, 2011 (Yale Project on Climate Change Communication and George Mason University Center for Climate Change Communication)

This study was conducted by the Yale Project on Climate Change Communication and the George Mason University Center for Climate Change Communication, and was funded by the Surdna Foundation, the 11th Hour Project, and the Grantham Foundation for the Protection of the Environment. Click thru for complete poll results.

Do you think global warming should be a low, medium, high, or very high priority for the president and Congress?

Do you think that developing sources of clean energy should be a low, medium, high, or very high priority for the president and Congress?

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Do you think each of the following should be doing more or less to address global warming?

People disagree whether the United States should reduce greenhouse gas emissions 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…

How big of an effort should the United States make to reduce global warming?

How much do you support or oppose requiring 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?

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How much do you support or oppose signing an international treaty that requires the United States to cut its emissions of carbon dioxide 90% by the year 2050?

How much do you support or oppose expanding offshore drilling for oil and natural gas off the U.S. coast?

How much do you support or oppose building more nuclear power plants?

How much do you support or oppose funding more research into renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power?

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How much do you support or oppose providing tax rebates for people who purchase energy efficient vehicles or solar panels?

How much do you support or oppose regulating carbon dioxide (the primary greenhouse gas) as a pollutant?

How much do you support or oppose a shift in taxes that reduces the federal income tax that Americans pay each year, but increases taxes on coal, oil, and natural gas by an equal amount? This shift would be "revenue neutral" (meaning the total amount of taxes collected by the government would stay the same).

How much do you support or oppose a shift in taxes that reduces the federal income tax that Americans pay each year, but increases taxes on coal, oil, and natural gas by an equal amount? This shift would be "revenue neutral" (meaning the total amount of taxes collected by the government would stay the same), but would help create jobs and decrease pollution.

How much do you support or oppose the following policy?

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Control Condition. Placing a $10 per ton tax on fuels that produce carbon dioxide (coal, oil, natural gas) to accelerate the transition to clean energy. This tax would slightly increase the cost of many things you buy, including food, clothing, and electricity. For example gasoline prices would rise by approximately 10 cents per gallon.

Reduce National Debt. Placing a $10 per ton tax on fuels that produce carbon dioxide (coal, oil, natural gas) to accelerate the transition to clean energy. All the revenues would be used to pay down the national debt. This tax would slightly increase the cost of many things you buy, including food, clothing, and electricity. For example gasoline prices would rise by approximately 10 cents per gallon.

Tax Reduction. Placing a $10 per ton tax on fuels that produce carbon dioxide (coal, oil, natural gas) to accelerate the transition to clean energy. All the revenues would be returned to taxpayers by reducing their federal income taxes. This tax would slightly increase the cost of many things you buy, including food, clothing, and electricity. For example gasoline prices would rise by approximately 10 cents per gallon, but you would get the money back in the form of lower annual taxes.

Annual Check. Placing a $10 per ton tax on fuels that produce carbon dioxide (coal, oil, natural gas) to accelerate the transition to clean energy. All the revenues would be returned to the public. Each American family would receive an equal share of the revenues with an annual check. This tax would slightly increase the cost of many things you buy, including food, clothing, and electricity. For example gasoline prices would rise by approximately 10 cents per gallon, but you would get the money back each year.

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The United States government provides approximately $10 billion a year in subsidies to the fossil fuel industry (coal, oil, and natural gas companies). How much do you support or oppose these subsidies?

The United States government provides approximately $2.5 billion a year in subsidies to the ethanol industry to make fuel from corn. How much do you support or oppose these subsidies?

Overall, do you think that protecting the environment…

When there is a conflict between environmental protection and economic growth, which do you think is more important?

How important will a candidate’s views on global warming be in determining your vote for President next year? Will it be the single most important issue, one of several important issues, or not important in determining your vote?

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Policy Preferences by Political Party - Registered Voters: National Policy Preferences

Do you think global warming should be a low, medium, high, or very high priority for the president and Congress?

Do you think that developing sources of clean energy should be a low, medium, high, or very high priority for the president and Congress?

How much do you support or oppose requiring 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?

How much do you support or oppose signing an international treaty that requires the United States to cut its emissions of carbon dioxide 90% by the year 2050?

click to enlarge

How much do you support or oppose expanding offshore drilling for oil and natural gas off the U.S. coast?

How much do you support or oppose building more nuclear power plants?

How much do you support or oppose funding more research into renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power?

Q180. How much do you support or oppose providing tax rebates for people who purchase energy efficient vehicles or solar panels?

click to enlarge

How much do you support or oppose regulating carbon dioxide (the primary greenhouse gas) as a pollutant?

How much do you support or oppose a shift in taxes that reduces the federal income tax that Americans pay each year, but increases taxes on coal, oil, and natural gas by an equal amount? This shift would be "revenue neutral" (meaning the total amount of taxes collected by the government would stay the same).

How much do you support or oppose a shift in taxes that reduces the federal income tax that Americans pay each year, but increases taxes on coal, oil, and natural gas by an equal amount? This shift would be "revenue neutral" (meaning the total amount of taxes collected by the government would stay the same), but would help create jobs and decrease pollution.

click to enlarge

How much do you support or oppose the following policy?

Control Condition. Placing a $10 per ton tax on fuels that produce carbon dioxide (coal, oil, natural gas) to accelerate the transition to clean energy. This tax would slightly increase the cost of many things you buy, including food, clothing, and electricity. For example gasoline prices would rise by approximately 10 cents per gallon.

Reduce National Debt. Placing a $10 per ton tax on fuels that produce carbon dioxide (coal, oil, natural gas) to accelerate the transition to clean energy. All the revenues would be used to pay down the national debt. This tax would slightly increase the cost of many things you buy, including food, clothing, and electricity. For example gasoline prices would rise by approximately 10 cents per gallon.

Tax Reduction. Placing a $10 per ton tax on fuels that produce carbon dioxide (coal, oil, natural gas) to accelerate the transition to clean energy. All the revenues would be returned to taxpayers by reducing their federal income taxes. This tax would slightly increase the cost of many things you buy, including food, clothing, and electricity. For example gasoline prices would rise by approximately 10 cents per gallon, but you would get the money back in the form of lower annual taxes.

Annual Check. Placing a $10 per ton tax on fuels that produce carbon dioxide (coal, oil, natural gas) to accelerate the transition to clean energy. All the revenues would be returned to the public. Each American family would receive an equal share of the revenues with an annual check. This tax would slightly increase the cost of many things you buy, including food, clothing, and electricity. For example gasoline prices would rise by approximately 10 cents per gallon, but you would get the money back each year.

click to enlarge

The United States government provides approximately $10 billion a year in subsidies to the fossil fuel industry (coal, oil, and natural gas companies). How much do you support or oppose these subsidies?

The United States government provides approximately $2.5 billion a year in subsidies to the ethanol industry to make fuel from corn. How much do you support or oppose these subsidies?

click to enlarge

Overall, do you think that protecting the environment: Reduces economic growth and costs jobs, Has no effect on economic growth or jobs, Improves economic growth and provides new jobs…

When there is a conflict between environmental protection and economic growth, which do you think is more important?

How important will a candidate’s views on global warming be in determining your vote for President next year? Will it be the single most important issue, one of several important issues, or not important in determining your vote?