Most Americans Favor Local Action on Global Warming, Poll Shows

As much of the country continues to experience unseasonably warm temperatures, the body of evidence for global warming is becoming undeniable. And according to poll results released Thursday, Americans realize that the time has come for action.

The poll, conducted by GfK Public Relations and the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, found that nearly three-quarters of Americans are willing to support measures by their local governments to reduce global warming, even if it meant paying more in taxes and other expenses.

The poll focused on local government action because it is local governments that are responsible for controlling zoning, building codes, electricity production and transportation systems. Policies made in each of these areas have the potential to influence global warming.

"City and local leaders are critical players in the effort to reduce global warming, and it's clear that their constituents want action," said Anthony Leiserowitz, director of the Yale Project on Climate Change, one of the survey's sponsors.

According to the results of the poll, 72 percent of Americans said they would support local subsidies to encourage homeowners to install solar panels on existing homes for the purpose of producing energy. The support was not merely rhetorical though - the respondents said they would be willing to pay a property tax increase of five dollars per month. The survey indicated that Americans felt the potential savings on energy and utility bills would be worth the tax increase.

"The public is on board and willing to foot the bill," said Leiserowitz. Even the size of the bill seemed to have no effect on survey respondents' willingness to comply; faced with a $7,500 increase in the price of a new home, 74 percent of Americans said they would support local regulations requiring increased energy efficiency.

Leiserowitz was also the principal investigator of a similar, recent study ("Poll Finds Americans Feel Threated by Global Warming," Oct. 5) that found 62 percent of Americans felt life on Earth would continue without major disruptions only if "immediate and drastic action" was taken to reduce global warming. The results of that study echoed the sentiments released Thursday, as 82 percent of Americans said they would support the use of renewable energy sources, even at an annual cost of $100 per household. In addition, 53 percent said they would accept city or local fees added to electricity bills in the interest of encouraging reduced energy use.

There were areas in which Americans would be opposed to paying more for the sake of energy efficiency, though. According to the results released Thursday, 64 percent opposed a potential 10-cent per gallon fee on gasoline to encourage reduced fuel use. This outcome also paralleled Leiserowitz's earlier study, in which 67 percent were opposed to a gasoline tax.

The poll also revealed that Americans were willing to make sacrifices in areas other than their incomes. Survey results indicated a willingness to be flexible, as 68 percent approved of altering city or town zoning laws in an effort to concentrate development near the town center and decrease suburban sprawl. Similarly, 65 percent would support rules that mandated a mixture of housing, offices, industries, schools and stores in close proximity. In addition to making towns more pedestrian-friendly, such measures would reduce automobile use, thus cutting down on emissions.

While Washington has been slow to act on the issue of global warming, the results of the poll indicate that almost any legislation would be met with approval. It would seem, then, that time is of the essence.

"All that's left to do now is act," said Leiserowitz.

SOURCES:

Press Release, Yale University