Another Study Shows that Climate Change Will be an Important Campaign Issue in 2020

It has taken a while, but climate change has become a major issue for Americans, one that will impact the results of the 2020 election. Several weeks ago we highlighted a recent poll showing that a record number of voters list climate change [and protecting the environment] as the most important issue for them in the 2020 election.

Illuminate: "Americans are paying attention and many will vote for a better environment in 2020. A growing percentage of voters list climate and the environment as their top priority, according to a new poll. Of the registered voters surveyed, 14% said “addressing climate change and protecting the environment” was their number one priority in the coming election, compared with just 2-6% before the 2016 presidential election."

And a new survey released this week and conducted by the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication and George Mason University's Center for Climate Change Communication found that the number of Americans that were concerned or "alarmed" by the potential consequences of climate change has reached an all-time high.

Yale.edu: "Our prior research has categorized Americans into six groups – Global Warming’s Six Americas – based on their climate change beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors. The “Alarmed” are the most worried about global warming and the most supportive of strong action to reduce carbon pollution. In contrast, the “Dismissive” do not think global warming is happening or human-caused and strongly oppose climate action."

"Our latest survey (November 2019) finds that the Alarmed segment is at an all-time high (31%). The Alarmed segment has nearly tripled in size since October 2014. Conversely, the Dismissive (10%) and Doubtful (10%) segments have each decreased over the past five years. The proportion of Americans in these two segments combined has decreased by about five percentage points since 2014."

There are few issues as divisive in American politics as global warming with Democrats consistently pointing out the need to reduce greenhouse gases, while the President and Republicans in Congress claim it's a hoax cooked up by conspiring climate scientists [or China, depending on who you ask]. These new surveys show that voters are paying attention to the glut of new and alarming research on the issue and moving toward the Democratic Party's position on climate change.

CNN: "This new urgency felt by many Americans stands in sharp contrast to the policies of the Trump administration, which has rolled back dozens of environmental regulations, many of which were aimed at curbing climate change."

Voters will have a clear choice in 2020; do nothing and hope for the best, or rejoin the Paris Climate Accord and take the steps necessary to reduce our carbon emissions.

#news #polling #climatechange

By: Don Lam & Curated Content