By Evan Waring
At a time when Texas representatives in Washington are denying scientific evidence on climate disruption, and the state is leading a massive lawsuit against the EPA over the Clean Power Plan, a new poll by the University of Texas at Austin says more than 3 out of 4 (76 percent) Americans believe climate change is occurring. This is an increase from 68 percent just one year ago, with 90 percent of Democrats and 59 percent of Republicans (up from 47 percent six months ago) now believing global warming exists.
That’s a 12 percent increase among Republicans.
While the results also show large support for clean energy, with a majority supporting requiring utilities to have a specific percentage of their energy from renewable sources (62 percent), the biannual poll shows views on other energy issues are split sharply along partisan lines. For instance, 50 percent of Democrats reported they would vote for a candidate who favors a tax on carbon emissions, while just 26 percent of Republicans said they would support such a candidate. And although 52 percent of total respondents said they want to reduce coal as an energy source, this was backed by only 40 percent of Republicans compared to 62 percent of Democrats.
“Political ideology continues to be the single greatest determinant of Americans’ views on climate change,” said UT Energy Poll Director Sheril Kirshenbaum in a news release.
The nationwide poll also highlights growing concern over fracking, with 48 percent of respondents saying they were familiar with the practice, up from 44 percent a year ago. Of those who were familiar with fracking, 58 percent support city bans on fracking even if the state permits it. In Texas, 57 percent of respondents also support local bans. This comes after the controversial law (HB 40) signed by Governor Greg Abbott in May that prohibits municipalities from regulating fracking in their area. Only 18 percent of those who are familiar with fracking support the new law.
Overall, these results are positive. There is much work to be done to combat rising temperatures, but the number of Americans supporting the facts is growing. Now it’s time for our elected officials to represent our views and stop denying climate disruption.
Evan Waring is a Media & Communications Intern with the Lone Star Chapter.