Will action to curb warming lead to lost jobs? Most say no


SAN FRANCISCO
July 28, 2010 9:01pm

Against a backdrop of state and national debates over climate change policies, Californians (76 percent) support government regulation of emissions from sources like power plants, cars, and factories, with 85 percent of Democrats, 81 percent of independents, and 51 percent of Republicans holding this view, according to a new statewide poll by the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California.

Although a majority (67 percent) support the idea of AB 32, California’s greenhouse gas control law, party divisions are strong: 80 percent of Democrats and 73 percent of independents are in favor, but only 39 percent of Republicans share this view.
 


Proposition 23 on the November ballot would suspend AB 32 until unemployment in the state is 5.5 percent or lower for four consecutive quarters, something that has rarely happened in recent state history.

Most Californians (54 percent) say global warming is already having an impact but are somewhat less likely to hold this view than they were last July (61 percent). Today 28 percent say global warming's effects will be felt sometime in the future -- up 6 points since last year -- while just 16 percent say they will never happen.

Nearly three-fourths say global warming is a very serious (44 percent) or somewhat serious (29 percent) threat to California's future economy and quality of life. These findings are similar to last year but have declined since July 2007 (54 percent very serious, 28 percent somewhat serious).
 


Forty-five percent of Californians say the state's actions to reduce global warming would be more jobs, 23 percent say fewer jobs, and 24 percent say the number of jobs wouldn't be affected.

Most Democrats (57 percent) and half of independents (50 percent) foresee more jobs in California as a result of action on global warming.

Forty-three percent of Republicans foresee fewer jobs; half of Republicans say there would be more jobs (24 percent) or no effect on jobs (25 percent).
 


About half of Californians say the state (48 percent) and federal (52 percent) governments are not doing enough to address global warming.

When it comes to ideas about state and federal actions to address global warming, strong majorities of Californians think the government should require:

• increased use of renewable energy sources by utilities (85 percent);

• industrial plants, oil refineries, and commercial facilities to reduce emissions (81 percent);

• all automakers to further reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases from new cars (79 percent); and,

• an increase in energy efficiency for residential and commercial buildings and appliances (75 percent).

They also favor encouraging local governments to change land use and transportation planning so that people can drive less (77 percent). Support for all of these policies is similar to last year.
 


Most Californians (54 percent) have not heard of one policy being discussed, the cap and trade system of setting limits on carbon dioxide emissions. After being read a brief description of the idea, 50 percent would support a cap and trade system and 40 percent would oppose it. They are much more likely to support a carbon tax (60 percent favor, 33 percent oppose).


Methodology

The PPIC survey was done with funding from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. Findings are based on a telephone survey of 2,502 California adult residents reached by landline and cell phones throughout the state. Interviews took place from July 6–20, and were conducted in English, Spanish, Chinese (Mandarin or Cantonese), Vietnamese, and Korean. The sampling error is ±2 percent for all adults, ±2.2 percent for the 1,971 registered voters, and ±2.7 percent for the 1,321 likely voters.