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Released: November 19, 2009

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Zogby Interactive: 52% Say U.S. Has Obligation to Cut Carbon Emissions

But 45% Unwilling to Pay More in Energy Costs

UTICA, New York - A majority of likely voters agree the U.S. has a greater obligation to reduce carbon emissions because we consume more energy than others, and 48% say the U.S. should do so even if other large nations to not take similar action. However, less than half are willing to pay any additional costs for their own energy consumption under legislation that might reduce emissions, a new Zogby poll finds.

The Zogby Interactive poll of 2,293 likely voters was conducted from Nov. 4-6, 2009.  The margin of error is +/-2.1%, and higher for subgroups. 

Here are more details of results for all three questions. (Numbers in tables are rounded to the nearest percent and might not equal 100.)

U.S. Has Greater Obligation to Reduce Carbon Emissions	Strongly + Somewhat Agree	Strongly + Somewhat Disagree
Likely Voters	26.7% + 25.7% = 52%	35.4% + 9.3% = 45%

 

There are large differences based on political ideology: 85% of Democrats agree and 75% of Republicans disagree that because the U.S. consumes more energy than other nations, it has a greater obligation to reduce carbon emissions than other nations. Among self-identified moderates, 64% agree, and African-Americans are much more likely to agree than Whites, 80% to 48%. Other demographic differences were not as great, with women and First Globals^TM (under age 30) most likely to agree. Frequency of religious service attendance was another variable of note, as 42% of those who worship more than once per week agreed, compared to 65% of those who never attend.

The question on whether U.S. action to reduce emissions depended on what others did offered three statements to choose for agreement. It listed "other large nations such as China, Russia, India and European nations," and asked if the U.S. should act on carbon emissions regardless of whether or not those nations also acted, only if those nations took similar action or that the U.S. should not act to reduce carbon emissions at all. Here are the results:

U.S. Should Act to Reduce Emissions	Likely Voters
Whether or not other nations also act	48%
Only if other nations take similar action	17%
Should not reduce emissions at all	26%
None of these + not sure	9%

 

Sub-group differences on this question are very similar to those of the previous question. Notably, 49% of Republicans and 57% of self-identified conservatives said the U.S. should take no action to reduce emissions, and 80% of Democrats and 57% of moderates say the U.S. should cut emissions even if other nations did not.

The final question asked how much more per month the respondents' household would be willing to pay for energy caused by any legislation that reduced carbon emissions. Here are the results:

How much more household willing to pay in energy costs per month to reduce carbon emissions	Likely Voters
$0	45%
$1 to $10	27%
$11 to $25	14%
$26 to $50	6%
More than $50	4%
Other/not sure	5%

 

Again, there were large ideological differences.  Among Republicans, 76% were unwilling to pay any more in energy costs, compared to 15% of Democrats and 50% of independents.  Nineteen percent of Democrats would pay at least $26 more.  Other differences among demographic groups followed those of the other questions.  Interestingly, household income made very little difference.

Pollster John Zogby: "Democrats and moderates very much favor having the U.S. take the lead in reducing the world's carbon emissions, and Republicans and conservatives do not. Given the need to have 60 votes to pass most anything in the Senate, especially the controversial cap and trade bill, environmentalists face a big challenge to pass a bill similar to that agreed to in the House. Supporters of cap and trade must convince voters that cutting emissions is worth some financial cost, but nearly half of voters are unwilling to pay anything more, and only a fourth would pay an extra $10 per month. Reported estimates of the bill's cost to households appear to be more than voters are willing to pay."

(11/19/2009)

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