Chris Borick, Director, Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion The Public Policy Forum - Sustainable Prosperity Survey of Canadian Public Opinion on Climate Changee Change

1. Christopher P. Borick
Muhlenberg College Institute of Public
Opinion
Presented February 23, 2011, Ottawa, Ontario

2.  Project began in Fall of 2008
 Surveys have been run on 4 occasions: Fall
2008; Fall 2009; Spring 2010; Fall 2010.
 Partnership of the University of Michigan
and Muhlenberg College in Pennsylvania
 Designed to examine American views on
the existence of climate change,
determinants of those beliefs, and public
support for climate policies at the national
and sub-national level.

3.  916 Completed Telephone Interviews.
 Sample of both land lines and cell
phones in the United States.
 Interviews conducted November 15th to
December 9th, 2010
 Margin of Error +/- 3% at 95% Level of
Confidence.

5. YES NO NOT SURE
Democrat 69% 16% 15%
Republican 41% 43% 17%
Independent 56% 31% 13%
Male 53% 30% 18%
Female 63% 23% 14%
18-29 62% 28% 10%
30-44 55% 31% 14%
45-64 64% 22% 14%
65 or Older 51% 29% 20%
College Educated 64% 25% 11%
Non-College Educated 50% 28% 23%

6. Note: Asked only of individuals who indicated a
belief that global warming was occurring

7. Fall 2008 Spring 2010 Fall 2010
Glaciers Melting 19% 22% 17%
Warmer Temps 19% 15% 22%
Weather Change 18% 15% 17%
Scientific Research 9% 14% 10%
Gore 2% <1% <1%
Documentary
Media Coverage 15% 16% 14%
Declining Species <1% N/A 1%
Human Activity 4% 5% 9%
Natural Patterns <1% 3% 2%
Not Sure/Other 12% 10% 10%
Note: Asked only of individuals who indicated a belief that
global warming was occurring

8. Fall 2008 Spring 2010 Fall 2010
Personal Observation 42% 43% 29%
Natural Patterns 19% 22% 32%
Not enough evidence 11% 13% 7%
Media has misled 3% 2% 3%
Evidence Disproves 8% 9% 9%
No Particular Reason 5% 4% 5%
Not Sure/Other 12% 7% 15%
Note: Asked only of individuals who indicated that they did not
believe global warming was occurring.

13. LEVEL OF AGREEMENT
My state should not adopt anti-global 35%
warming policies unless its
neighboring states/provinces also adopt
similar policies.
If the federal government fails to 62%
address the issue of global warming it
is my state’s responsibility to address
the problem.
My state/province has already felt 44%
negative effects from global warming

14. Federal State Both Neither Not
Sure
Cap and Trade 15% 9% 41% 29% 8%
Fossil Fuel Taxes 12% 7% 34% 42% 5%
Nuclear Power 18% 5% 37% 35% 6%
Gas Taxes 8% 9% 26% 54% 3%
Renewable 8% 11% 57% 21% 3%
Electricity
Portfolios
Automobile 25% 5% 48% 20% 3%
Efficiency

15. Fall 2008 Fall 2009 Fall 2010
$0 22% 29% 41%
$1-49 16% 31% 26%
$50-99 17% 15% 17%
$100-249 13% 13% 7%
$250-499 10% 3% 4%
$500 or more 7% 2% 2%
Not Sure 15% 7% 4%
Refused 1% 0% <1%

16. General View What if it Increases What if it Increases
Electric By $15/mo? Electric By $50/mo?

17. General View What if it Increases Monthly Electric
Bill?

18.  There has been a small rebound in acceptance of
global warming among Americans since the Spring of
2010, but overall belief percentages lag behind 2008
levels.
 Both those who belief global warming is happening
and those who do not are significantly affected by
personal observations of weather, with shifts occurring
in conjunction with meteorological conditions.
 The public generally sees a role for all levels of
American Government in dealing with climate change
but has indicated a diminished willingness to pay for
such efforts since 2008.

19.  Only three years ago it was assumed by
many that the American public would
continue to accept the existence of
global warming.
 Many of the current levels of public
opinion in Canada regarding global
warming are where US public opinion on
this matter was in 2008.