A Stanford University survey looked at the effect of cooler temperatures in 2011 and climate skeptic rhetoric expressed by Republican Party presidential candidates on the American public's support of climate change policies.
Researchers compared two nationally representative surveys conducted in 2010 and 2012 that asked respondents about ten policies intended to reduce future warming.
WHY YOU SHOULD TAKE A LOOK:
The Stanford survey found that while public endorsement of climate policies has weakened over the past two years, support for many government actions to reduce carbon emissions remains high.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
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Large majorities of Americans support emissions reduction policies.
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Support for government action decreased between 2010 and 2012.
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The decrease in support was greatest among those who mistrust climate scientists and among Republicans.
Most popular policies
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Giving companies tax breaks to produce from electricity from renewables
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Requiring new buildings to use less energy
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Reducing power plant emissions
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Giving companies tax breaks to build nuclear power plants
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Increasing taxes on gas
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Increasing taxes on electricity
The survey findings indicate that the decline in support for these policies occurred primarily among people who have low levels of trust in scientists and those who identify as Republican. Additionally, while the researchers expected a decrease in policy endorsement from people living in states with struggling economies, there was no evidence that it contributed to the decline.
