Skip to content
CapRadio

CapRadio

listen live donate
listen live donate
listen live
donate
  • News
    • News

    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
    News
    • News

    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
  • Music
    • Music

    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic

    • Daily Playlist
    Music
    • Music

    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic

    • Daily Playlist
  • Podcasts & Shows
  • Schedules
  • Events
  • Support
    • Support
    • Ways to support
    • Evergreen Donation
    • One-Time Donation
    • Corporate Sponsorship
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Giving
    • Legacy Giving
    • Endowment Support
    • Members
    • Member Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • Member Newsletter

    • Fund drives
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
    Support
    • Support
    • Ways to support
    • Evergreen Donation
    • One-Time Donation
    • Corporate Sponsorship
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Giving
    • Legacy Giving
    • Endowment Support
    • Members
    • Member Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • Member Newsletter

    • Fund drives
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
  • About
  • Close Menu
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
  • Environment
  • State Government
  •  

Americans Not Split On Belief In Climate Change

  •  Amy Quinton 
Thursday, November 12, 2015 | Sacramento, CA
Listen
/
Update RequiredTo play audio, update browser or Flash plugin.
Darren Barefoot / Flickr
 

Darren Barefoot / Flickr

Not only does a large majority of Americans believe in human-caused climate change, but a majority is also willing to pay to see greenhouse gas emissions reduced. 

 1112AQ_PERCEIVEPAY

 

Jon Krosnick, a Stanford University humanities and social sciences professor, says the evidence is based on surveys he's conducted from 1997 through this year. Krosnick is an expert on surveys and the psychology of attitudes. The belief about climate change has largely not changed over the years. 

1112AQ_PERCEIVE

To generate the state-level data, this project combined results of the best national surveys over the past decade of Americans’ opinions about climate change.  This large data set provided sufficient data to estimate public opinion in 46 states.  The methodology made statistical adjustments to account for differences in survey methodologies and changes in public opinion over time. States colored gray in the maps below signify that there was not sufficient data  to analyze that question at the state level.  Credit / Stanford University

It may sound surprising, but Krosnick says the lack of political will to reduce greenhouse gases in the US might be a result of how people perceive other people’s opinions.

“On most issues in America, we are divided about 50/50," says Krosnick. "So it wouldn’t be unreasonable for someone who doesn’t know, to say ‘Well I guess we’re about half red and half blue, so I guess we’re half believers in climate change and half not.' That's what the results of our surveys look like people perceive to be the case."

But Krosnick says Americans are not split on their belief in climate change. Most believe it's real. He says that belief is true across political lines and in all states.

Krosnick says there is a good chance that politicians don't realize how one-sided the country is on the issue, or they would pass policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  He says it would be popular with their consituents.

Krosnick spoke Thursday at the UC Center Sacramento. 


Follow us for more stories like this

CapRadio provides a trusted source of news because of you.  As a nonprofit organization, donations from people like you sustain the journalism that allows us to discover stories that are important to our audience. If you believe in what we do and support our mission, please donate today.

Donate Today  

    Related Stories

  • 56352515@N00 / Flickr

    California Sixth-Grade Textbooks Frame Climate Change As Uncertain

    Monday, November 30, 2015
    A recent study shows many sixth-grade science textbooks in California frame climate change as uncertain in the scientific community and that it may or may not be human-caused.
  • Amy Quinton / Capital Public Radio

    Restoring California Meadows Could Help Combat Climate Change And Increase Water Supply

    Friday, November 20, 2015
    Scientists are studying if restoring mountain meadows can play a small part in combating climate change.

Amy Quinton

Former Environment Reporter

Amy came to Sacramento from New Hampshire Public Radio (NHPR) where she was Environment Reporter. Amy has also reported for NPR member stations WFAE in Charlotte, WAMU in Washington D.C. and American Public Media's "Marketplace."  Read Full Bio 

Sign up for ReCap and never miss the top stories

Delivered to your inbox every Friday.

 

Check out a sample ReCap newsletter.

Thanks for subscribing!

Thank you for signing up for the ReCap newsletter! We'll send you an email each Friday with the top stories from CapRadio.

Browse all newsletters

More Environment Stories

U.S. Forest Service

Federal government announces $930M investment in high-risk areas impacted by wildfires

January 20, 2023

Kristin Lam / CapRadio

Disaster recovery center connects Sacramento-area winter storm victims to help

January 26, 2023

AP Photo/Gregory Bull, File

Growers brace to give up some Colorado River water

January 22, 2023

Most Viewed

California coronavirus updates: Homeless 'point-in-time' count in Los Angeles continues its second year after pandemic

10 new California laws that go into effect in 2023

Behind The I-80 Castle: A Drag-Racing, Beauty School Mogul’s Dream House

California coronavirus updates: Millions of Americans may soon lose access to Medicaid as continuous enrollment ends in March

Still testing positive after day 10? How to decide when to end your COVID isolation

We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter

Most Viewed

California coronavirus updates: Homeless 'point-in-time' count in Los Angeles continues its second year after pandemic

10 new California laws that go into effect in 2023

Behind The I-80 Castle: A Drag-Racing, Beauty School Mogul’s Dream House

California coronavirus updates: Millions of Americans may soon lose access to Medicaid as continuous enrollment ends in March

Still testing positive after day 10? How to decide when to end your COVID isolation

Back to Top

  • CapRadio

    7055 Folsom Boulevard
    Sacramento, CA 95826-2625

    •  
      (916) 278-8900
    •  
      (877) 480-5900
    •  Contact / Feedback
    •  Submit a News Tip
  • About

    • Mission / Vision / Core Values
    • Stations & Coverage Map
    • Careers & Internships
    • Staff Directory
    • Board of Directors
    • Press
  • Listening Options

    • Mobile Apps
    • Smart Speakers
    • Podcasts & Shows
    • On-Air Schedules
    • Daily Playlist
    • Signal Status
  • Connect

    •  Facebook
    •  Twitter
    •  Instagram
    •  YouTube
  • Donate

  • Listen Live

  • Newsletters

CapRadio stations are licensed to California State University, Sacramento. © 2023, Capital Public Radio. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Website Feedback FCC Public Files: KXJZ KKTO KUOP KQNC KXPR KXSR KXJS. For assistance accessing our public files, please call 916-278-8900 or email us.