As a follow up to our July poll, CSP did a second survey earlier month probing attitudes toward climate policy, sponsored by PSEG. (The poll (n803), conducted Monmouth University Polling Institute was desiged by Cliff Zukin.) These are the results - analysis to follow:
SURVEY INSTRUMENT
(with Weighted Frequencies)
1. Now, I’d like to ask some questions about the issue of global warming, sometimes called the “greenhouse effect.” How well do you feel you understand this issue – would you say very well, fairly well, not very well, or not at all? 33% Very well 48% Fairly well 15% Not very well
4% Not at all 1% (VOL) Don’t know/Refused
2. Which of the following three statements comes closest to your view of global warming?
[READ RESPONSE OPTIONS 1 THRU 3 IN ORDER]
58% First, global warming is a proven fact and is mostly caused by emissions from cars and industrial facilities and the activities of people
19% Second, Global warming is a proven fact and is mostly caused by natural changes that have little to do with emissions from cars and industrial facilities and people; OR
20% Third, Global warming is a theory that has not yet been proven 3% (VOL) Don’t know /Refused
3. Is global warming an issue that affects you personally in any way, or not? 45% Yes 53% No
1% (VOL) Depends 2% (VOL) Don’t know/Refused
4. And is global warming an issue that you personally can do anything about, or not? 62% Yes 35% No
1% (VOL) Depends 2% (VOL) Don’t know/Refused
5. Who do you think is mainly responsible for the problem of global warming – business and industry, or the activities that ordinary people do everyday? 42% Business and industry 22% Activities that ordinary people do everyday 25% (VOL) Both equally
8% (VOL) Neither, something else 2% (VOL) Nothing, problem does not exist 2% (VOL) Don’t know/Refused
6. What role should the government in Washington have in reducing the problem of global warming – a major role, a minor role, or no role at all? 66% Major role 23% Minor role 10% No role at all
0% (VOL) Depends 1% (VOL) Don’t know/Refused
Now I’m going to read you some things government might do to reduce global warming. Please just tell me whether you think each IS or IS NOT something government should do.
[CATI: RANDOMIZE G7/8/9/10/11. BUT KEEP BRANCHING QUESTIONS G7A, G8A, G10A PARTNERED WITH THEIR ROOTS IN THE RANDOMIZATION]
7. Make the utility companies get more of their electricity from solar and wind power rather
than from coal – should government do this or not?
84% Should do >> ASK G7A
13% Should not do >>> SKIP TO NEXT QUESTION
2% (VOL) Depends >> ASK G7A 2% (VOL) Don’t know/Refused >> ASK G7A
G7A. And would you favor or oppose this if it increased YOUR energy bill by 20 percent?
49% Favor
44% Oppose
3% (VOL) Depends
5% (VOL) Don’t know/Refused
Full Sample Frequencies:
42% Favor
38% Oppose
13% * Should not do from G7 *
2% (VOL) Depends
4% (VOL) Don’t know/Refused
8. Require that all new homes and renovations to existing homes are built in a more energy
efficient way – should government do this or not?
80% Should do >> ASK G8A
19% Should not do >>> SKIP TO NEXT QUESTION
1% (VOL) Depends >> ASK G8A 1% (VOL) Don’t know/Refused >> ASK G8A
8A. And would you favor or oppose this if it ended up adding 10 percent to the price of
buying or renovating a home?
65% Favor
31% Oppose
2% (VOL) Depends
2% (VOL) Don’t know/Refused
Full Sample Frequencies:
53% Favor
25% Oppose
19% * Should not do from G8 *
2% (VOL) Depends
2% (VOL) Don’t know/Refused
9. Raise the tax on gasoline in order to get people to drive less – should government do
this or not?
17% Should do
80% Should not do
1% (VOL) Depends 2% (VOL) Don’t know/Refused
10. Establish a stricter emissions standard for all new cars sold in the country. This is
separate from whether mileage is improved. Should government do this or not? 74% Should do >> ASK G10A 22% Should not do >>> SKIP TO NEXT QUESTION
1% (VOL) Depends >> ASK G10A 3% (VOL) Don’t know/Refused >> ASK G10A
10A. And would you favor or oppose this if it added $300 to the price of a new car? 73% Favor 22% Oppose
2% (VOL) Depends 3% (VOL) Don’t know/Refused
Full Sample Frequencies: 57% Favor 17% Oppose 22% * Should not do from G10 *
1% (VOL) Depends 2% (VOL) Don’t know/Refused
11. Charge higher registration fees for cars that produce more greenhouse gas emissions
and less for those having fewer emissions—should government do this or not? 54% Should do 42% Should not do
1% (VOL) Depends 3% (VOL) Don’t know/Refused
Now just a few final questions so we can classify your answers. D1. Are you currently registered to vote at the address where you now live or haven’t you
had a chance to register yet? 84% Registered 15% Not registered for any reason
1% (VOL) Don’t know/Refused
D2. In politics today, do you consider yourself a Democrat, Republican, Independent, or
something else? 37% Democratic 20% Republican 32% Independent
2% Something Else / Other 9% (VOL) Don’t Know / Refused
D3. What was the last grade in school you completed?
8th
1% grade or less 6% High School incomplete (Grades 9, 10 and 11) 34% High School Complete (Grade 12)
3% Vocational/Technical School 14% Some College 10% Junior College Graduate (2 year, Associates Degree) 20% 4 year College Graduate (Bachelor’s Degree) 12% Graduate School (Masters, Law/Medical School, etc.)
1% (VOL) Don’t Know / Refused
D4. What was your age on your last birthday? 28% 18 to 34, 40% 35 to 54, or 30% 55 or over?
2% (VOL) Don’t Know/Refused
D5. Do you have any children under the age of 18? 34% Yes 65% No
1% (VOL) Don’t know/Refused
D6. Are you of Latino or Hispanic origin? 14% Yes 85% No
2% (VOL) Don’t Know / Refused
D7. Are you white, black or of Asian origin? 69% White 14% Black
6% Asian 6% (VOL) Hispanic, but won’t specify race 3% (VOL) Other 3% (VOL) Don’t Know/Refused
D8. In what county do you live?
4% Atlantic 9% Middlesex
11% Bergen 8% Monmouth 5% Burlington 5% Morris 4% Camden 8% Ocean 1% Cape May 4% Passaic 2% Cumberland 1% Salem 8% Essex 3% Somerset 3% Gloucester 4% Sussex 5% Hudson 6% Union 2% Hunterdon 2% Warren 5% Mercer 2% (VOL) DK/Refused
D9. And what is your zip code? _____________________
D10. So that we can group all answers, is your total annual family income before taxes: Under $50,000; from $50,000 to just under $100,000; or $100,000 or more? Your best estimate is fine.
30% Under $50,000 31% $50,000 to just under $100,000 25% $100,000 or more
3% (VOL) Don’t know 11% (VOL) Refused
D11. RECORD RESPONDENT GENDER from observation: 48% Male 52% Female