Polls suggest that Americans want to see their government act on environmental issues, but they do not have much love for the environmental movement. According to a number of different surveys, people in the US have seemingly contradictory views on the environment. American public opinion may be divided but there are some issues that enjoy the support of the majority.
Most Americans want to see government support for clean energy and they want government to make climate change a priority issue. The majority of Americans see global warming as an important issue, and regularly engage in behaviors that are good for the environment.
Gallup recently found that 83 percent of Americans want more government support for clean energy. Yale and George Mason University researchers found [PDF] that 72 percent of Americans believe that global warming should be a government priority. Another Gallup poll found that three out of four Americans regularly engage in environmentally friendly behaviors.
Polls on American attitudes suggest that support for the environmental movement has declined over the last ten years.According to a 2010 Gallup poll, American support the environmental movement has decreased and unsurprisingly it is split along party lines. Republicans tend to dislike environmentalists while Democrats tend to be supporters.
The 2010 survey asked respondents whether they think the environmental movement has done more good than harm, or vice versa, and a similar but slightly stronger pattern emerges. In 2010, 22 percent said that the movement has "definitely done more good than harm" and 40% that it has "probably done more good than harm," for a total of 62% holding a positive view. This reflects a decline of 13 points since 2000.
Most Americans want to see government support for clean energy and they want government to make climate change a priority issue. The majority of Americans see global warming as an important issue, and regularly engage in behaviors that are good for the environment.
Gallup recently found that 83 percent of Americans want more government support for clean energy. Yale and George Mason University researchers found [PDF] that 72 percent of Americans believe that global warming should be a government priority. Another Gallup poll found that three out of four Americans regularly engage in environmentally friendly behaviors.
Polls on American attitudes suggest that support for the environmental movement has declined over the last ten years.According to a 2010 Gallup poll, American support the environmental movement has decreased and unsurprisingly it is split along party lines. Republicans tend to dislike environmentalists while Democrats tend to be supporters.
The 2010 survey asked respondents whether they think the environmental movement has done more good than harm, or vice versa, and a similar but slightly stronger pattern emerges. In 2010, 22 percent said that the movement has "definitely done more good than harm" and 40% that it has "probably done more good than harm," for a total of 62% holding a positive view. This reflects a decline of 13 points since 2000.
© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.
Related Posts
Global Survey on Sustainability
US Environmental Attitudes 2007 - 2020
Study on US Environmental Attitudes
The US is More Accepting of the Veracity of Climate Change
Earth Day Poll 2012: Environment is Important
Belief in Global Warming is Tied to the the Economy
The GfK MRI Survey of the American Consumer
Consumers Skeptical of Environmental Claims
AASHE Survey of Sustainability Positions in Higher Education
Survey Shows CSR Standards Reduce Risk
Survey Shows that Americans Now Want to Address Climate Change
Surveys of America's Greenest Brands
Businesses are Combating Climate Change
Why Green Remains Viable Even in an Economic Downturn
Consumers Continue to Embrace the Green Market
Survey Shows China More Receptive to EVs than the US
People Want Fuel Efficient Vehicles
Electric and Hybrid Vehicles: Changing Perceptions
Americans Want Cars to get 60 MPG
