According to a Program On International Policy Attitudes poll, an overwhelming majority of U.S. citizens favors the United States joining with other G8 members to limit greenhouse gas emissions. That places George Bush in a small and radically insouciant minority.

The PIPA-Knowledge Networks poll asked whether President Bush should or should not be willing to act to limit greenhouse gases that cause climate change if the leaders of the G8 countries are willing to act to limit the gases. Of all respondents, 86% said that he should; 81% of Republicans supported that as well as 89% of Democrats.

Virtually all respondents — 94% — agreed the United States should limit its greenhouse gases at least as much as the other developed countries do, and 44% think the U.S. should do more than other countries, on average.

A significant majority — 73% — said the U.S. should participate in the Kyoto agreement to reduce global warming. An unexpected finding was that 43% of respondents still incorrectly assume that President Bush favors U.S. participation in the Kyoto Treaty and another 14% are not sure. Only 43% have resisted Repug brain-control and said they are aware that Bush vehemently opposes U.S. participation.

Public perception of a worldwide scientific consensus on global warming has increased dramatically over the past year.

The percentage saying that “there is a consensus among the great majority of scientists that global warming exists and could do significant damage” has risen from 43% in June 2004 to 52% today. The percentage saying that “scientists are divided on the existence of global warming and its impact” has dropped from 50% to 39%. This is part of a long-range trend: in 1994 only 28% perceived a scientific consensus while 58% assumed that scientists were divided.

This trend is also reflected in greater awareness of global warming or climate change, which appears to have grown over the last year. Asked how much they have heard about “the problem of global warming or climate change due to the buildup of greenhouse gases,” 72% said a great deal or some (22% and 50% respectively), up from 63% a year ago, when 15% said a great deal and 48% some. Those who said not very much or not at all dropped from 38% to 28%.

Perceptions of a scientific consensus on climate change continue to be partisan. Sixty-two percent of Democrats perceived a consensus, as compared to just 41% of Republicans.
But over the last year there have been sharp movements in both parties, especially Republicans. Among Republicans, the perception of a scientific consensus has risen 11 points (30% to 41%) and the perception of scientists as divided has dropped a remarkable 17 points (63% to 46%). Among Democrats, perceptions of a scientific consensus have risen 7 points (55% to 62%) while perceptions of a division have dropped 6 points (39% to 33%).

Need for Action

Three in four Americans embrace the idea that global warming is a problem that requires action. Only 21% opposed any steps with economic costs. However, those who said some action is necessary were divided between 42% who said the effect of global warming “will be gradual, so we can deal with the problem gradually by taking steps that are low in cost,” and 34% who said the problem is “pressing” and “we should begin taking steps now even if this involves significant costs.”

Not surprisingly, there is a strong relationship between the belief that there is a scientific consensus and the view that high-cost steps are needed. Among those who believe that scientists are divided, only 17% favored high-cost steps, as compared to 51% among those who perceive there is a consensus.

Perhaps most interesting, when the American public was asked to “suppose there were a survey of scientists that found that an overwhelming majority have concluded that global warming is occurring and poses a significant threat,” the percentage of the whole sample saying that they would then favor taking high-cost steps increased sharply, from 34% to 56%.

Climate Change Legislation

A very large majority of Americans express support for legislation to reduce greenhouse gases. Respondents were told about the targets in one of the key drafts of the McCain-Lieberman legislation (Climate Stewardship Act), which would require large companies to reduce their emissions to 2000 levels by 2010 and to 1990 levels by 2020. An overwhelming 83% said they favored the legislation, with just 13% opposed.

They were then asked if they would favor the bill “if in fact it appears that it would likely cost $15 a month for an average household.” Two out of three (68%) said they would, while 28% said they would not. Democrats were just slightly more willing to accept the $15 cost (72%) than Republicans (67%).