The Harris Poll^® #109, November 7, 2007

Global Warming Seen as a Problem That Needs to be Addressed Globally, But Most People Want U.S. to Take the Lead

A large majority of the public believes that global warming is a problem that must be addressed by industrial countries globally. However, a large majority also believes that the United States needs to take the lead when it comes to controlling greenhouse gases and pollution.

These are two of the findings of a new Harris Poll of 1,052 adults surveyed by telephone between October 16 and 23, 2007 by Harris Interactive®.

The main findings of this poll include:

Those who think we have too little government regulation (53%) "in the area of environmental protection" greatly outnumbers those who think we have too much (21%);
Those who now think we have too little regulation (53%) have increased from 47 percent in 2005 and 39 percent in 2000. However, they are far fewer than those who felt that way in the early 1990s;
Republicans are split more or less equally between those who believe we have too much (34%) and too little (36%) regulation. Most Democrats (68%) and half of Independents (51%) believe we have too little regulation;
A 71 percent to 23 percent majority believes that current trends will lead to global warming and an increase in average temperatures. This substantial majority who believe in global warming has not changed much in the last ten years (in 1997 a 67 percent to 21 percent believed this to be true). The same proportion (71%) of the public believes that we are already experiencing global warming;
A very large majority (87%) of all adults agrees with the statement that "since emerging countries such as India and China will soon pass the United States as the largest contributor of greenhouse gases, whatever is done to control these gases should be undertaken by almost all industrial countries";
At the same time an almost equally large 81 percent majority believes that "the United States needs to set the lead when it comes to controlling greenhouse gases and pollution".

So What?

This poll leaves no doubt that the great majority of Americans, believe that global warming is a real threat, that we are already experiencing its effects, and that this country should take the lead in doing more to address it. Clearly that has not been the position of the Bush administration.

As we get closer to the 2008 election, candidates will surely notice that over half of Republicans (and very large majorities of Democrats and Independents) believe we are experiencing global warming, and that more than a third of Republicans (36%) think there is too little environmental regulation. The Republican nominee next fall, whoever he is, will need to avoid being identified with President Bush’s skepticism on global warming and his resistance to taking strong steps — domestically or internationally — to deal with it. If he does not, some Republicans may be reluctant to vote for him.

TABLE 1

GOVERNMENT REGULATION TO REDUCE ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS – TREND

"Do you think there is too much, too little, or about the right amount of government regulation and involvement in the area of environmental protection?"

Base: All Adults

		Too Much	Too Little	About the Right Amount	Not Sure
Now	%	21	53	21	5
2005	%	19	47	32	2
2000	%	22	39	33	5
1999	%	29	42	28	1
1998	%	29	41	29	2
1997	%	21	49	28	1
1996	%	24	41	30	5
1993	%	20	52	24	3
1991	%	11	63	23	3