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A majority of Americans believe that action must be taken now to combat climate change. Most consider that it is at least a serious problem, including over a quarter of them who say that it is a crisis. Seven out of ten people think that human activity contributes much or partially to climate change, and most feel that they have the personal responsibility to do something, although many say that they can not to permit.
Opinions on the subject are marked by partisan divisions.
Most respondents – 67% – believe that humans can act to fight climate change – although we say more than we can slow down climate change (48%) rather than believe we can stop it. completely (19%). Those who think that humans do not contribute much to climate change are less likely to think that humanity can do something about it.
About a third of Americans do not think that climate change needs to be resolved quickly. When asked why, the main reason for choosing is that climate change is exaggerated (39%), followed by "we can not really do anything about it" (26%).
Nearly all Americans (91%) think the Earth is facing climate change in one way or another, even if there is disagreement about whether the main cause is human activity or natural patterns. Only 9% think climate change is not happening.
Although some do not believe that human activity is the main cause, most Americans think it contributes at least somewhat to climate change.
Few Americans – just one in 10 – say that humans do not contribute at all to climate change. In this small group, most believe that the idea that human activity is at the root of climate change is a lie or a hoax to make people think that the problem is more serious than it is. it really is.
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There is also a divergence of opinion on the consensus of scientific evidence on climate change. Fifty-two percent of Americans think that almost all climatologists agree that human activity is the leading cause of climate change, while 48% say scientists do not agree still not about whether human activity is a main cause.
About eight out of ten Americans are more or less confident about climate change, but also about their own observations about the environment. Most have much or some confidence in their local forecasters and forecasters.
Fewer people trust the traditional news media and US government agencies to get information on climate change.
Political divisions
There are partisan differences on many points of view regarding climate change, including its cause and the level of urgency required.
Majorities of Democrats believe that humans are a big contributor to climate change and need to act now, while Republicans are more skeptical about the extent to which human activity contributes to it and feel the issue is less urgent.
Republicans do not think the issue of climate change is as urgent as the Democrats. Democrats are almost three times more likely than Republicans to think that citizens must act now to fight climate change.
Opinions on the human contribution to climate change are related to ideas about what can be done, if any.
There are partisan divisions between the views of climatology. Three out of four Democrats say that almost all scientists agree that human activity is one of the main causes of climate change, while almost the same number of Republicans think scientists are always disagree.
In addition, Republicans have less confidence than Democrats in information on climate change.
United States and international cooperation
A recent UN report claiming that there was a high risk of environmental crisis by 2040 if climate change was not addressed. This has heightened the anxiety of some Americans. About a third say they are more concerned. Most Democrats are more concerned, while Republicans and independents are less affected by the report. Overall, more Democrats say they trust the United Nations climate information than either Republicans or independents say.
Opinions on the kind of role the United States should play in preventing climate change are largely driven by partisanship. Seventy-two percent of Democrats believe that the United States should take the lead on climate change, but only 23% of Republicans (who are less likely to view climate change as a problem) think so. Most Republicans believe that the United States should only participate if other countries do the same or do not participate at all in international efforts to prevent climate change.
There is a more partisan agreement on some specific proposals to mitigate possible changes in the Earth's climate. Americans, including the majority of Democrats and Republicans, favor preserving and restoring forests and wetlands (90%), producing more fuel-efficient cars (82%), favoring sources renewable energy such as wind and solar (81%), awareness and direct action of the population (80%) and international agreements to reduce carbon emissions (77%).
Renewable energies vs fossil fuels
Most Americans (67%) believe that increasing renewable energy production is more likely to create jobs in their region than increasing fossil fuel production. Most Republicans differ from the majority of Democrats and independents on this point: 55% see more job prospects in increasing the production of fossil fuels such as oil, coal and gas .
Many Republicans question the motives of those who wish to reduce the use of fossil fuels in the name of climate change. About half of the Republicans say that people who share this view want to hurt these industries for political reasons.
Americans are divided as to whether the US could switch to 100% renewable energy by 2050, although 38% think this is realistic. Most Democrats (54%) and those who say that it is necessary to act against climate change now think that it is a realistic goal. But Republicans (54%) and Americans who do not see climate change as an urgent problem think this is unrealistic.
Many of the proposals likely to contribute to reducing the Earth's climate changes surveyed in this survey receive bipartite support, but taxes on emissions of carbon-based fuels such as coal, oil and gases are not. Most Republicans (63%) oppose this idea as a way to reduce climate change.
What can people do?
Most Americans think they have a personal responsibility to do something to fight climate change, even if it's not enough. This is particularly the case for those who think that humans contribute significantly to climate change and those who think that people should act now.
Nearly half of Americans (46%) do things in their own lives to help the environment even if it costs time and money. Although protecting the environment is important for many Americans, it can be a struggle for some. Thirty-seven percent say that it is important that they act to protect the environment but say that they have neither the time nor the money to make them now. Low income Americans are more likely than those who earn more money to say that protecting the environment is important, but they have neither the time nor the money to help .
Here too, there are partisan divisions. Democrats – who view climate change as a more pressing issue – are more likely than Republicans or independents to think that they have the personal responsibility to help and do something, even if it costs money. time and money.
Many percentages of Americans say they want to do a number of things specific to help the environment, such as recycling more (87%), using energy efficient light bulbs (86%), giving up plastic bags in stores (77%) , and give up plastic straws (70%). Most are also willing to drive less (62%) and travel less (58%), but few would be willing to give up meat (31%).
Most people are willing to implement all these personal changes, with the exception of the abandonment of meat. Democrats and independents are more likely than Republicans to be willing to do many of these things.
This CBS News Poll is published as part of Covering Climate Now, a collaboration of more than 250 media outlets around the world, providing in-depth coverage of climate history.
The CBS News survey is conducted by YouGov on a nationally representative sample of 2,143 US residents surveyed between September 6 and September 10, 2019. This sample was weighted by sex, age, race and age. of education on the basis of the American Community Survey, conducted by the US Bureau of the Census, as well as the presidential vote and the registration status of 2016. The margin of error is 2, 2 pts.
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