From the Public Policy Institute of California:
How concerned are Californians about climate change and its effects? What do they think about state efforts to mitigate global warming, regulate greenhouse emissions, and address water needs? The Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) has just released the results of its latest survey based on a telephone survey of 1,705 California adult residents interviewed from July 8–15, 2014.
What respondents said about drought, restricting water use, and the water bond
In response to an open-ended question, 35 percent name water supply or drought as the most important environmental issue facing California today. This represents an increase of 27 points since July 2011, and the first time in environmental surveys dating back to 2000 that air pollution has not been the top issue. Today, 14 percent mention air pollution, down 13 points since 2011. Amid reports of worsening drought conditions, 54 percent of Californians say water supply is a big problem in their part of the state, 25 percent say it is somewhat of a problem, and only 21 percent say it is not much of a problem. Regionally, Californians living on the coast (52%) are about as likely as those living inland (58%) to say that water supply is a big problem in their areas.
In yet another measure of their concern about drought, strong majorities of residents (75%) and likely voter (70%) say they favor their local water districts requiring residents to reduce water use. Residents across the state are in favor, with those in Los Angeles (80%) the most supportive.
What do Californians think is the primary cause of the drought? Half (51%) say it is natural weather patterns, 38 percent say it is global warming.
Baldassare noted: “Many Californians are very concerned that global warning will lead to more severe droughts, yet most believe that the current water crisis is a result of natural weather patterns.”
Asked about the cause of the state’s current wildfires, 55 percent of residents say they are mostly the result of natural weather patterns and 31 percent say the primary cause is global warming.
The legislature continues to discuss downsizing an $11.1 billion state bond for water projects that is currently on the November ballot. How would residents vote on the measure with a price tag of $11.1 billion? A majority (61%) would vote yes (22% no), as would about half of likely voters (51% yes, 26% no). When those who would vote no are asked how they would vote if the bond were a smaller amount, support increases by 8 points for both adults (69% yes, 14% no) and likely voters (59% yes, 18% no). Asked how important it is that voters pass the state water bond, 46 percent say it is very important and 30 percent say it is somewhat important (likely voters: 44% very important, 24% somewhat important).
Droughts, wildfires top worries about effects of global warming
Is global warming already having an impact? Yes, say 62 percent of Californians. About a quarter (23%) say global warming’s effects will be felt in the future, and 12 percent say they will never happen. A strong majority say they are very concerned (40%) or somewhat concerned (34%) about global warming. Only about a quarter are not too concerned (11%) or not at all concerned (15%).
Asked about some of the possible effects of global warming in California, majorities say they are very concerned about droughts (64%) or wildfires (61%) that are more severe. Fewer express this level of concern about heat waves that are more severe (44%) or rising sea levels (32%). Across regions, residents of the Central Valley are the most likely to be very concerned about droughts (72%) and residents of the Inland Empire are the least likely (57%).
54% oppose more fracking; 53% favor the Keystone Pipeline
As debates continue over hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, at least half of adults (54% oppose, 36% favor) and likely voters (50% oppose, 40% favor) oppose this method of oil and natural gas extraction. Majorities oppose fracking in the San Francisco Bay Area (61%), Central Valley (56%), Los Angeles (55%), and Orange/San Diego (55%). Residents of the Inland Empire are divided (43% favor, 42% oppose).
Asked about another contentious issue—building the Keystone XL pipeline to transport oil from Canada to refineries in Texas—majorities of California adults (53%) and likely voters (58%) express support. Most Republicans (73%) and independents (56%) favor building the pipeline, while half of Democrats (50%) oppose it (39% favor).
For the full survey results, go here: PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and the Environment
