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Americans want climate change
63 percent want strong action with new president
LOS ANGELES -- A new poll released shows that two-thirds of all U.S. adults believe it is important that the next president of the United States have a policy which addresses climate change. Almost half, or 44 percent, believe it is extremely or very important, and only 14 percent believe it is not at all important. A significant majority of Americans -- 63 percent of U.S. adults -- say it is important that the new president, soon after taking office, initiates strong action to address global warming/climate change.
The findings of the poll, commissioned by the non-partisan Presidential Climate Action Project (PCAP) and conducted by Harris Interactive, may surprise experts. "As some polls show, when asked broadly about what issues are important, the environment or climate change do not rank near the top of those lists," said Bill Becker, PCAP's executive director. "But when asked about the overall importance of climate change, it is clear from these numbers that strong majorities of American voters want action on the issue, and expect our next president to do something soon after taking office."
The poll found that more women than men want a president with such a policy (69 percent versus 63 percent). The poll also found that the importance of the next president having a climate change policy is significantly stronger in the Northeast (74 percent) followed by the West (68 percent). Both Hispanic Americans (75 percent) and African-Americans (72 percent) say it is important that the new president have a policy on climate change.
Asked about the urgency they place on the next president initiating strong action to address climate change soon after taking office, 63 percent of likely U.S. voters believe such urgent action is important. Seven out of 10 Hispanic Americans (70 percent) and 68 percent of African-Americans support urgent presidential action. Forty-one percent (41 percent) of likely U.S. voters believe it is extremely or very important that the president takes strong action to address climate change soon after taking office, and only 16 percent believe it is not at all important.
The poll found that people who are more certain to vote are more likely to believe it is important for the next president to have a policy for climate change; and that he or she initiate action in this area soon after taking office.
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