Christopher Borick Presentation - Continental Divide? Canadian and US Views on Energy and Climate Change February 2011

Christopher P. Borick

Muhlenberg College Institute of Public

Opinion

Presented February 23, 2011, Ottawa, Ontario

Project began in Fall of 2008Surveys have been run on 4 occasions: Fall

2008; Fall 2009; Spring 2010; Fall 2010.Partnership of the University of Michigan

and Muhlenberg College in PennsylvaniaDesigned to examine American views on

the existence of climate change, determinants of those beliefs, and public support for climate policies at the national and sub-national level.

916 Completed Telephone Interviews.

Sample of both land lines and cell

phones in the United States.

Interviews conducted November 15th to

December 9th, 2010

Margin of Error +/- 3% at 95% Level of

Confidence.

YES NO NOT SURE

Democrat 69% 16% 15%

Republican 41% 43% 17%

Independent 56% 31% 13%

Male 53% 30% 18%

Female 63% 23% 14%

18-29 62% 28% 10%

30-44 55% 31% 14%

45-64 64% 22% 14%

65 or Older 51% 29% 20%

College Educated 64% 25% 11%

Non-College Educated 50% 28% 23%

Note: Asked only of individuals who indicated a

belief that global warming was occurring

Fall 2008 Spring 2010 Fall 2010

Glaciers Melting 19% 22% 17%

Warmer Temps 19% 15% 22%

Weather Change 18% 15% 17%

Scientific Research 9% 14% 10%

Gore

Documentary

2% <1% <1%

Media Coverage 15% 16% 14%

Declining Species <1% N/A 1%

Human Activity 4% 5% 9%

Natural Patterns <1% 3% 2%

Not Sure/Other 12% 10% 10%

Note: Asked only of individuals who indicated a belief that

global warming was occurring

Fall 2008 Spring 2010 Fall 2010

Personal Observation 42% 43% 29%

Natural Patterns 19% 22% 32%

Not enough evidence 11% 13% 7%

Media has misled 3% 2% 3%

Evidence Disproves 8% 9% 9%

No Particular Reason 5% 4% 5%

Not Sure/Other 12% 7% 15%

Note: Asked only of individuals who indicated that they did not

believe global warming was occurring.

LEVEL OF AGREEMENT

My state should not adopt anti-global

warming policies unless its

neighboring states/provinces also adopt

similar policies.

35%

If the federal government fails to

address the issue of global warming it

is my state’s responsibility to address

the problem.

62%

My state/province has already felt

negative effects from global warming

44%

Federal State Both Neither Not

Sure

Cap and Trade 15% 9% 41% 29% 8%

Fossil Fuel Taxes 12% 7% 34% 42% 5%

Nuclear Power 18% 5% 37% 35% 6%

Gas Taxes 8% 9% 26% 54% 3%

Renewable

Electricity

Portfolios

8% 11% 57% 21% 3%

Automobile

Efficiency

25% 5% 48% 20% 3%

Fall 2008 Fall 2009 Fall 2010

$0 22% 29% 41%

$1-49 16% 31% 26%

$50-99 17% 15% 17%

$100-249 13% 13% 7%

$250-499 10% 3% 4%

$500 or more 7% 2% 2%

Not Sure 15% 7% 4%

Refused 1% 0% <1%

General View What if it Increases

Electric By $15/mo?

What if it Increases

Electric By $50/mo?

General View What if it Increases Monthly Electric

Bill?

There has been a small rebound in acceptance of

global warming among Americans since the Spring of

2010, but overall belief percentages lag behind 2008

levels.

Both those who belief global warming is happening

and those who do not are significantly affected by

personal observations of weather, with shifts occurring

in conjunction with meteorological conditions.

The public generally sees a role for all levels of

American Government in dealing with climate change

but has indicated a diminished willingness to pay for

such efforts since 2008.

Only three years ago it was assumed by

many that the American public would

continue to accept the existence of

global warming.

Many of the current levels of public

opinion in Canada regarding global

warming are where US public opinion on

this matter was in 2008.