Why would a young Republican support solar power but oppose a carbon tax? O two Democrats agree climate change is real but disagree on how to address it?
A new study analyzing 20 years of polling shows Americans’ views on #climate are more nuanced than partisan labels. Here’s 5 lessons from the data:
theconversation.com/5-lessons-…
5 lessons from 20 years of climate surveys: Political party matters, but it doesn’t explain everything
Why would a young Republican back solar but reject a carbon tax? Twenty years of survey data shows climate opinion is more complex than party labels suggest.The Conversation
The Conversation U.S.
in reply to The Conversation U.S. • • •1. Climate polarization deepened after 2017
The partisan divide over climate change already existed, but it grew sharper after 2017. Concern about global warming rose among Democrats and independents, while Republicans' views remained comparatively stable.
The Conversation U.S.
in reply to The Conversation U.S. • • •2. Among Republicans, age is a major force
Younger Republicans were much more likely than older Republicans to support solar and wind power and oppose coal expansion and drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
The Conversation U.S.
in reply to The Conversation U.S. • • •3. Climate policy support depends on what the policy asks people to do
Supporting renewable energy doesn't automatically mean supporting every climate policy. Many younger Republicans backed solar energy but opposed carbon taxes, suggesting people weigh costs, fairness and government involvement.
The Conversation U.S.
in reply to The Conversation U.S. • • •4. Education does not erase the partisan gap
More education doesn't automatically bring people to the same conclusions. College-educated Democrats were generally more supportive of climate regulations, while college-educated Republicans often remained skeptical of regulation even when they supported technologies like nuclear power.
The Conversation U.S.
in reply to The Conversation U.S. • • •5. The biggest group is the 'mixed middle'
The largest group of Americans isn't made up of climate activists or climate skeptics. It's people with mixed, sometimes inconsistent, views whose opinions often depend on how a policy is framed and what tradeoffs it requires.
The Conversation U.S.
in reply to The Conversation U.S. • • •While Americans don’t sort neatly into two camps on climate change, political party is still the strongest predictor of climate views.
Still, age, education and the details of individual policies all shape how Americans think about climate action.
theconversation.com/5-lessons-…
5 lessons from 20 years of climate surveys: Political party matters, but it doesn’t explain everything
The ConversationPreston MacDougall
in reply to The Conversation U.S. • • •