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   Environment                 See also: Energy | Science and Nature

Polls listed chronologically. Data are from nationwide surveys of Americans 18 & older. 
 
 

Gallup Poll. March 6-9, 2008. N=1,012 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3 (for all adults).

.

"With which one of these statements about the environment and the economy do you most agree? Protection of the environment should be given priority, even at the risk of curbing economic growth. OR, Economic growth should be given priority, even if the environment suffers to some extent." Options rotated

.
Environment Economic
Growth		 Equal
Priority (vol.)		 Unsure

.
% % % %

.

3/6-9/08

 49 42 5 3

.

3/11-14/07

 55 37 4 4

.
3/13-16/06 52 37 6 4

.
3/7-10/05 53 36 7 4

.

3/04

 49 44 4 3

.

3/03

 47 42 7 4

.

3/02

 54 36 5 5

.

3/01

 57 33 6 4

.

4/00

 67 28 2 3

.

.

"All in all, which of the following best describes how you feel about the environmental problems facing the earth? Life on earth will continue without major environmental disruptions only if we take additional, immediate, and drastic action concerning the environment. We should take some additional actions concerning the environment. OR, We should take just the same actions we have been taking on the environment."

.
Immediate,
Drastic action		 Some
Additional
Actions		 Same
Actions		 Unsure

.
% % % %

.

3/6-9/08

 34 52 13 1

.

.
"I'm going to read you a list of environmental problems. As I read each one, please tell me if you personally worry about this problem a great deal, a fair amount, only a little, or not at all. How much do you personally worry about [see below]?"

.
Great Deal Fair Amount Only a Little Not at All

.
% % % %

.

.

"Pollution of drinking water"

   3/6-9/08

 53 28 13 6

.

   3/11-14/07

 58 24 12 5

.

   3/13-16/06

 54 27 12 7

.

   3/8-11/04

 53 24 17 6

.

.

"Pollution of rivers, lakes and reservoirs".

   3/6-9/08

 50 34 12 4

.

   3/11-14/07

 53 31 13 3

.

   3/13-16/06

 51 33 11 5

.

   3/8-11/04

 48 31 16 5

.

.
"Contamination of soil and water by toxic waste".

   3/6-9/08

 50 30 14 6

.

   3/11-14/07

 52 28 13 7

.

   3/13-16/06

 52 29 13 6

.

   3/8-11/04

 48 26 21 5

.

.

"Maintenance of the nation's supply of fresh water for household needs"

   3/6-9/08

 48 31 15 5

.

   3/11-14/07

 51 27 16 5

.

   3/13-16/06

 49 27 14 9

.

   3/8-11/04

 47 25 20 8

.

.
"The loss of natural habitat for wildlife"

.

.

   3/6-9/08

 44 33 17 6

.

.
"Air pollution".

   3/6-9/08

 43 35 17 6

.

   3/11-14/07

 46 33 15 5

.

   3/13-16/06

 44 34 15 7

.

   3/8-11/04

 39 30 23 8

.

.
"The loss of tropical rain forests"

.

.

   3/6-9/08

 40 29 20 11

.

   3/11-14/07

 43 30 17 10

.

   3/13-16/06

 40 24 22 13

.

   3/8-11/04

 35 26 23 15

.

.
"Damage to the earth's ozone layer"

.

.

   3/6-9/08

 39 29 19 12

.

   3/11-14/07

 43 27 19 11

.

   3/13-16/06

 40 28 19 13

.

   3/8-11/04

 33 27 26 14

.

.
"Extinction of plant and animal species"

.

.

   3/6-9/08

 37 31 20 11

.

   3/11-14/07

 39 30 19 12

.

   3/13-16/06

 34 29 23 14

.

   3/8-11/04

 36 26 23 15

.

.
"The 'greenhouse effect,' or global warming"

.

.

   3/6-9/08

 37 29 16 17

.

   3/11-14/07

 41 24 18 16

.

   3/13-16/06

 36 26 21 15

.

   3/8-11/04

 26 25 28 19

.

.
"Urban sprawl and loss of open spaces"

.

.

   3/6-9/08

 33 35 19 12

.

.
"Acid rain"

.

.

   3/6-9/08

 23 27 26 23

.

   3/11-14/07

 25 25 28 20

.

   3/13-16/06

 24 28 24 23

.

   3/8-11/04

 20 26 27 26

.

.

"Next, thinking about the issue of global warming, sometimes called the 'greenhouse effect,' how well do you feel you understand this issue -- would you say very well, fairly well, not very well, or not at all?"

.
Very Well Fairly Well Not Very
Well		 Not at All

.
% % % %

.

3/6-9/08

 21 59 18 2

.
3/11-14/07 22 54 19 4

.
3/13-16/06 21 53 20 6

.

.

"Which of the following statements reflects your view of when the effects of global warming will begin to happen? They have already begun to happen. They will start happening within a few years. They will start happening within your lifetime. They will not happen within your lifetime, but they will affect future generations. OR, They will never happen." Options rotated

.
Already
Happening		 Within a
Few Years		 Within Your
Lifetime		 Future
Generations		 Never
% % % % %

3/6-9/08

 61 4 10 13 11
3/23-25/07 60 4 7 15 11
3/11-14/07 59 3 8 19 8
3/13-16/06 58 5 10 15 8

3/05

 54 5 10 19 9

3/04

 51 5 12 18 11

3/03

 51 6 12 17 10

3/02

 53 5 13 17 9

3/01

 54 4 13 18 7

11/97

 48 3 14 19 9

.

"Do you think that global warming will pose a serious threat to you or your way of life in your lifetime?"

.
Yes No Unsure

.

.
% % %

.

.

3/6-9/08

 40 58 2

.

.

3/13-16/06

 35 62 2

.

.

3/4-7/02

 33 65 2

.

.

3/5-7/01

 31 66 3

.

.

11/6-9/97

 25 69 6

.

.

.

"Thinking about your own shopping and living habits over the last five years, would you say you have made major changes, minor changes or no changes to help protect the environment?"

.
Major
Changes		 Minor
Changes		 No Changes Unsure

.
% % % %

.

3/6-9/08

 28 55 17 -

.

3/3-5/03

 23 61 15 1

.

4/3-9/00

 31 58 11 -

.

.

Asked of those of have made changes:
"What are some of the specific changes you have made in your shopping and living habits to help protect the environment?" Open-ended. Multiple responses.

.
    %

.

.

Recycle/Recycle more

 39

.

.

Drive less/Consolidate trips/Car pool

 17

.

.

Buy biodegradable products

 14

.

.

Use less electricity/Conserve energy

 10

.

.

Drive more fuel efficient car/Maintain car

 9

.

.

Buy/Use more "green" products

 7

.

.

Use energy saving light bulbs

 7

.

.

Eat more organic/home grown foods

 5

.

.

Conserve water

 5

.

.

Other

 16

.

.

None/Nothing

 2

.

.

Unsure

 12

.

.

 

The Harris Poll. Oct. 16-23, 2007. N=1,052 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3 (for all adults).

.

"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?"

.
Too
Much		 Too
Little		 About
Right		 Unsure
% % % %

ALL adults

 21 53 21 5
  Republicans 34 36 25 4
  Democrats 10 68 17 4
  Independents 25 51 19 4

.

8/9-16/05

 19 47 32 2

.

"Do you believe the theory that increased carbon dioxide and other gases released into the atmosphere will, if unchecked, lead to global warming and an increase in average temperatures?"

.
Yes No Unsure
% % %

10/16-23/07

 71 23 6

9/19-23/02

 74 19 7

.

"Do you agree or disagree with the following statements? . . ."

.
Agree Disagree Unsure
% % %

"Since emerging countries such as India and China will soon pass the United States as the largest contributor of greenhouse gases, what ever is done to control these gases should be undertaken by almost all industrial countries."

.

   10/16-23/07

 87 10 2

.

"As the world's leading industrial country, the United States needs to set the lead when it comes to controlling greenhouse gases and pollution."

.

   10/16-23/07

 81 16 3

 

Associated Press-Stanford University poll conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs. Sept. 21-23, 2007. N=1,001 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.1.

.

"How would you rate the condition of the natural environment in the world today . . . ?"

.
Excellent Good Fair Poor Very Poor
% % % % %

9/21-23/07

 3 18 35 34 8

.

"Compared to 10 or so years ago, do you think the natural environment in the world today is . . . ?"

.
Better Worse About the
Same		    
% % %    

9/21-23/07

 12 55 32    

.

"Thinking ahead to 10 or so years from now, do you think the natural environment in the world will be . . . ?"

.
Better Worse About the
Same		 Unsure  
% % % %  

9/21-23/07

 15 52 31 2