U.S. Adults Less Likely Than Europeans to Think Humans Are Contributing to the Increase in Global Temperatures

As the nation celebrated Earth Day this past weekend, there is a definite a difference in how those in the U.S. feel about global warming when compared to their European counterparts. While two-thirds of U.S. adults (65%) believe humans are contributing to an increase in global temperatures, this is less than the British (77%), Italian (87%) and French and Spanish (88% each) who believe this. The country where they are most likely to believe humans are contributing to this increase in temperatures is Germany (92%).

The U.S. data are the results of a nationwide Harris Poll of 2,563 adults surveyed online between April 10 and 16, 2007. The European data are the results of a Financial Times/Harris Poll survey conducted online between November 2 and 10, 2006. The total number of interviews for each country was: 1,039 adults, aged 16 and older in Great Britain; 1,125 adults, 16 and older in France; 1,089 adults, 16 and older in Italy; 1,007 adults, 16 and older in Spain; and 1,086 adults, 16 and older in Germany.

Among those who do believe humans are increasing global temperatures, U.S adults are more in line with some of their European counterparts in characterizing the severity of the increase. Half of U.S. adults, Germans (51%), British (52%) and Italians (53%) would characterize the increase in global temperatures as substantial. The Spanish and the French are more likely than the other country’s citizens to believe this increase is substantial (63% and 74% respectively).

There is a divide among the nations when it comes to whether global warming will present a threat within their lifetime. Those in Germany, Great Britain and the U.S are on one side, saying that global warming will present a threat to them and their family (27%, 34% and 36% respectively), while two-thirds (67%) of Spanish adults say the opposite. Italy and France are in the middle with just under half of Italians (46%) and just over half of the French (52%) believing in this Potential threat.

One interesting issue is what to call this problem. Some say global warming and others say climate change. Is there a difference in the minds of U.S. adults on this? The answer is no, not really, though climate change may be considered just a little worse. We asked a series of questions on whether people and/or institutions had done the right amount to help reduce the greenhouse gases that contribute to this problem. For half of our sample, we used the term global warming while the other half was asked about climate change.

For the half that was asked about global warming, 44 percent felt the media was doing too little, 62 percent felt the President was doing too little, 66 percent felt the general public was doing too little and 74 percent felt large corporations were doing too little. For these same four institutions, the half that was asked about climate change had one consistent difference :a slightly higher number said each of these institutions was doing too little to help reduce greenhouse gases which contribute to climate change (48% for the media, 64% for the president, 67% for the general public and 75% for large corporations). While this difference for each institution may not be large enough to be statistically significant, it is definitely interesting.

The media also plays a role in the debate about climate change. Just under half (46%) believe the threats to the environment that the media reports on are as serious as the media portrays them while just over one-third (37%) say the media is exaggerating these threats to get the public to pay more attention to them. There is a slight gender difference as three in ten women (31%) say the media is exaggerating while 43 percent of men feel this way.

Not surprisingly, there is also a partisan difference. While two-thirds (65%) of Democrats say the threats are as serious as the media portrays, just one-quarter (26%) of Republicans believe that is true. Independents fall right in the middle – 41 percent say the media is exaggerating the threats while 45 percent of Independents say the threats are as serious as the media portrays.

Just 5 percent of adults say they are an active environmentalist while 55 percent say they are sympathetic to environmental causes. One-third of adults (34%) say they consider themselves neutral while only 2 percent say they are unsympathetic to environmental causes. Republicans are more likely to say they are neutral (43%) while Democrats are more likely to say they are sympathetic to environmental causes (63%). Interestingly, there is no real difference by party in those who say they are an active environmentalist (4% of Republicans and 5% of Democrats).

Age also is not as much of a factor in who is sympathetic to environmental causes. As one might expect, those who are Matures (62 and older) are the least likely to say they are sympathetic to environmental causes (51%). But, at the other end of the spectrum, Baby Boomers (aged 43-61) are most likely to say they are sympathetic (58%).

"Thinking about climate change, do you believe that the activities of human beings are contributing to an increase in global temperatures?"

Base: All adults

"Would you characterize this increase in global temperatures as slight, moderate or substantial?"

Base: Believe humans contributing to increased global temperatures

Note: The U.S. sample was provided with a Not Sure option; 3% said Not Sure

"Will global warming present a threat to you and your family within your lifetime?"

Base: All adults

"For each of the following, please tell us if you think they’ve done too much, too little or about the right amount to help reduce greenhouse gases which contribute to global warming?"

Base: All U.S. adults

"For each of the following, please tell us if you think they’ve done too much, too little or about the right amount to help reduce greenhouse gases which contribute to climate change?"

Base: All U.S. adults

"Lately there have been a lot of reports about threats to the environment. In general, which is closer to your view?"

Base: All U.S. adults

"Do you think of yourself as…?"

Base: All U.S. adults

This Harris Poll^® was conducted online within the United States between April 10 and 16, 2007, among 2,563 adults (aged 18 and over). The Financial Times/Harris Poll was conducted in 5 European countries among adults, 16 and older, between November 2 and 10, 2006. The sample size for each of the countries was: Great Britain – 1,039; France – 1,125; Italy – 1,089; Spain – 1,007; and Germany – 1,086. Figures for age, sex, race, education, region and household income were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. Propensity score weighting was also used to adjust for respondents’ propensity to be online.

All surveys are subject to several sources of error. These include: sampling error (because only a sample of a population is interviewed); measurement error due to question wording and/or question order, deliberately or unintentionally inaccurate responses, nonresponse (including refusals), interviewer effects (when live interviewers are used) and weighting.

With one exception (sampling error) the magnitude of the errors that result cannot be estimated. There is, therefore, no way to calculate a finite "margin of error" for any survey and the use of these words should be avoided.

With pure probability samples, with 100 percent response rates, it is possible to calculate the probability that the sampling error (but not other sources of error) is not greater than some number. With a pure probability sample of 2,563 adults one could say with a ninety-five percent probability that the overall results would have a sampling error of +/- two percentage points. For each of the European samples, one could say with a ninety-five percent probability that the overall results would have a sampling error of +/- three percentage points. However that does not take other sources of error into account. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no theoretical sampling error can be calculated.

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