Even Fewer Believe It Poses a Threat or Would Pay Higher Prices to Fight
Raleigh, N.C. – Despite repeated claims that “the debate is over” only one-half of voters in North Carolina believe global warming is caused by human activity according to a new poll released today by the Civitas Institute.
According to 600 sampled voters, when asked if they thought global warming was caused more by human activity, long-term changes in Earth’s atmosphere or that global warming doesn’t exist, 49.5 percent of voters said human activity was the cause of global warming. 22.8 percent responded changes in atmosphere while 15.2 percent said it did not exist. 12.2 percent were not sure.
“The environmentalist movement would like the public to believe that there is overwhelming consensus on the causes of global warming. Unfortunately for them, that is not the case,” said Francis De Luca, executive director of the Civitas Institute. “With slightly less than half of voters believing that humans cause global warming, the debate is definitely not over despite Al Gore’s assertions.”
As a follow up, voters who said global warming existed were asked if they thought global warming will pose a serious threat to their way of life. Only 37 percent said yes.
Nearly an identical number (38 percent) said they were willing to pay higher gas prices or utility bills to fight global warming.
“Even among those who believe global warming is caused by humans, few are willing to pay higher prices in the name of combating the Global Warming crisis,” said De Luca.
The Civitas Poll is the only monthly live-caller poll of critical issues facing North Carolina.
Full text of questions:
Do you think global warming is caused more by long-term changes in the Earth’s atmosphere, by human activity or do think global warming does not exist?
Changes in atmosphere – 22.8%
Human activity – 49.5%
Does Not Exist – 15.2%
Not Sure – 12.2%
[IF did not answer “Does not exist”] Do you think global warming will pose a serious threat to you or your way of life in your lifetime?
Yes – 37.1%
No – 55.4%
Not sure – 7.5%
[IF did not answer “Does not exist”] Would you be willing to pay higher gas prices and utility bill in the name of fighting global warming?
Yes – 37.9%
No – 55.2%
Not sure – 6.9%
Click here for full results and crosstabs.
The study of 600 registered voters was conducted Jan. 19-22, 2009. All respondents were part of a fully representative sample of registered voters in North Carolina. For purposes of this study, voters we interviewed had to have voted in either the 2004, 2006 or 2008 general elections or were newly registered voters since 2008.
The confidence interval associated with a sample of this size is such that: 95 percent of the time, results from 600 interviews (registered voters) will be within +-4% of the “True Values.” True Values refer to the results obtained if it were possible to interview every person in North Carolina who had voted in either the 2004, 2006 or 2008 general elections or were newly registered voters since 2008.
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