ROCHESTER, N.Y., April 23 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As the nation celebrated Earth Day this past weekend, there is a definite difference in how those in the U.S. feel about global warming when compared to their European counterparts. While two-thirds of U.S. adults (65%) believe humans are contributing to an increase in global temperatures, this is less than the British (77%), Italian (87%) and French and Spanish (88% each) who believe this. The country where they are most likely to believe humans are contributing to this increase in temperatures is Germany (92%).
The U.S. data are the results of a nationwide Harris Poll of 2,563 adults surveyed online between April 10 and 16, 2007. The European data are the results of a Financial Times/Harris Poll survey conducted online between November 2 and 10, 2006. The total number of interviews for each country was: 1,039 adults, aged 16 and older in Great Britain; 1,125 adults, 16 and older in France; 1,089 adults, 16 and older in Italy; 1,007 adults, 16 and older in Spain; and 1,086 adults, 16 and older in Germany.
Among those who do believe humans are increasing global temperatures, U.S. adults are more in line with some of their European counterparts in characterizing the severity of the increase. Half of U.S. adults, Germans (51%), British (52%) and Italians (53%) would characterize the increase in global temperatures as substantial. The Spanish and the French are more likely than the other country's citizens to believe this increase is substantial (63% and 74% respectively).
There is a divide among the nations when it comes to whether global warming will present a threat within their lifetime. Those in Germany, Great Britain and the U.S. are on one side, saying that global warming will present a threat to them and their family (27%, 34% and 36% respectively), while two- thirds (67%) of Spanish adults say the opposite. Italy and France are in the middle with just under half of Italians (46%) and just over half of the French (52%) believing in this Potential threat.
Global Warming versus Climate Change
One interesting issue is what to call this problem. Some say global warming and others say climate change. Is there a difference in the minds of U.S. adults on this? The answer is no, not really, though climate change may be considered just a little worse. We asked a series of questions on whether people and/or institutions had done the right amount to help reduce the greenhouse gases that contribute to this problem. For half of our sample, we used the term global warming while the other half was asked about climate change.
For the half that was asked about global warming, 44 percent felt the media was doing too little, 62 percent felt the President was doing too little, 66 percent felt the general public was doing too little and 74 percent felt large corporations were doing too little. For these same four institutions, the half that was asked about climate change had one consistent difference: a slightly higher number said each of these institutions was doing too little to help reduce greenhouse gases which contribute to climate change (48% for the media, 64% for the president, 67% for the general public and 75% for large corporations). While this difference for each institution may not be large enough to be statistically significant, it is definitely interesting.
The role of the media
The media also plays a role in the debate about climate change. Just under half (46%) believe the threats to the environment that the media reports on are as serious as the media portrays them while just over one-third (37%) say the media is exaggerating these threats to get the public to pay more attention to them. There is a slight gender difference as three in ten women (31%) say the media is exaggerating while 43 percent of men feel this way.
Not surprisingly, there is also a partisan difference. While two-thirds (65%) of Democrats say the threats are as serious as the media portrays, just one-quarter (26%) of Republicans believe that is true. Independents fall right in the middle -- 41 percent say the media is exaggerating the threats while 45 percent of Independents say the threats are as serious as the media portrays.
Who is an environmentalist?
Just 5 percent of adults say they are an active environmentalist while 55 percent say they are sympathetic to environmental causes. One-third of adults (34%) say they consider themselves neutral while only 2 percent say they are unsympathetic to environmental causes. Republicans are more likely to say they are neutral (43%) while Democrats are more likely to say they are sympathetic to environmental causes (63%). Interestingly, there is no real difference by party in those who say they are an active environmentalist (4% of Republicans and 5% of Democrats).
Age also is not as much of a factor in who is sympathetic to environmental causes. As one might expect, those who are Matures (62 and older) are the least likely to say they are sympathetic to environmental causes (51%). But, at the other end of the spectrum, Baby Boomers (aged 43-61) are most likely to say they are sympathetic (58%).
TABLE 1
HUMANS CONTRIBUTING TO GLOBAL WARMING
"Thinking about climate change, do you believe that the activities of human
beings are contributing to an increase in global temperatures?"
Base: All adults
U.S. Great France Italy Spain Germany
Britain
% % % % % %
Yes 65 77 88 87 88 92
No 21 12 4 5 4 3
Not Sure 13 11 7 8 8 5
TABLE 2
EXTENT OF GLOBAL WARMING
"Would you characterize this increase in global temperatures as slight,
moderate or substantial?"
Base: Believe humans contributing to increased global temperatures
U.S. Great France Italy Spain Germany
Britain
% % % % % %
Slight 14 15 3 9 10 13
Moderate 33 33 23 39 26 36
Substantial 50 52 74 53 63 51
Note: The U.S. sample was provided with a Not Sure option; 3% said Not Sure
TABLE 3
THREAT TO HUMANS
"Will global warming present a threat to you and your family within your
lifetime?"
Base: All adults
U.S. Great France Italy Spain Germany
Britain
% % % % % %
Yes 36 34 52 46 67 27
No 41 35 28 26 14 40
Not Sure 24 31 20 27 19 32
TABLE 4
REDUCING GREENHOUSE GASES WHICH CONTRIBUTE TO GLOBAL WARMING "For each of the following, please tell us if you think they've done too much,
too little or about the right amount to help reduce greenhouse gases which
contribute to global warming?"
Base: Half of all adults
Too Right Too Not
Much Amount Little Sure
% % % %
The Media 20 23 44 13
The President 3 22 62 13
The General Public 3 20 66 12
Large Corporations 3 12 74 12
TABLE 5
REDUCING GREENHOUSE GASES WHICH CONTRIBUTE TO CLIMATE CHANGE "For each of the following, please tell us if you think they've done too much,
too little or about the right amount to help reduce greenhouse gases which
contribute to climate change?"
Base: Half of all adults
Too Right Too Not
Much Amount Little Sure
% % % %
The Media 17 20 48 14
The President 4 21 64 12
Large Corporations 4 11 75 10
The General Public 3 19 67 11
TABLE 6
ROLE OF THE MEDIA "Lately there have been a lot of reports about threats to the environment. In
general, which is closer to your view?"
Total Gender Party Identification
% Male Female Rep Dem Ind.
% % % % %
The media is exaggerating
these threats in order to
get the public to pay more
attention to them 37 43 31 58 18 41
These threats to the
environment are as serious
as the media portrays. 46 42 50 26 65 45
Not Sure 17 15 19 16 16 14
Base: All adults
TABLE 7
ENVIRONMENTALIST OR NOT?
"Do you think of yourself as ... ?"
Base: All adults
Generation Party ID
Echo Gen Baby
Total Boomers X Boomers Matures
(18-30) (31-42) (43-61) (62+) Rep Dem Ind.
% % % % % % % %
An active
environmentalist 5 5 5 4 4 4 5 4
Sympathetic to
environmental
causes 55 56 54 58 51 47 63 57
Neutral 34 29 34 33 40 43 26 34
Unsympathetic to
environmental
causes 2 3 2 3 3 5 1 1
Not Sure 4 7 5 2 2 1 5 4
Methodology
This Harris Poll(R) was conducted online within the United States between April 10 and 16, 2007, among 2,563 adults (aged 18 and over). The Financial Times/Harris Poll was conducted in 5 European countries among adults, 16 and older, between November 2 and 10, 2006. The sample size for each of the countries was: Great Britain - 1,039; France - 1,125; Italy - 1,089; Spain - 1,007; and Germany - 1,086. Figures for age, sex, race, education, region and household income were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. Propensity score weighting was also used to adjust for respondents' propensity to be online.
All surveys are subject to several sources of error. These include: sampling error (because only a sample of a population is interviewed); measurement error due to question wording and/or question order, deliberately or unintentionally inaccurate responses, nonresponse (including refusals), interviewer effects (when live interviewers are used) and weighting.
With one exception (sampling error) the magnitude of the errors that result cannot be estimated. There is, therefore, no way to calculate a finite "margin of error" for any survey and the use of these words should be avoided.
With pure probability samples, with 100 percent response rates, it is possible to calculate the probability that the sampling error (but not other sources of error) is not greater than some number. With a pure probability sample of 2,563 adults one could say with a ninety-five percent probability that the overall results would have a sampling error of +/- two percentage points. For each of the European samples, one could say with a ninety-five percent probability that the overall results would have a sampling error of +/- three percentage points. However that does not take other sources of error into account. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no theoretical sampling error can be calculated.
These statements conform to the principles of disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.
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The Harris Poll(R) #34, April 23, 2007
By Regina Corso, Director, The Harris Poll
About Harris Interactive
Harris Interactive is the 12th largest and fastest-growing market research firm in the world. The company provides innovative research, insights and strategic advice to help its clients make more confident decisions which lead to measurable and enduring improvements in performance. Harris Interactive is widely known for The Harris Poll, one of the longest running, independent opinion polls and for pioneering online market research methods. The company has built what it believes to be the world's largest panel of survey respondents, the Harris Poll Online. Harris Interactive serves clients worldwide through its United States, Europe and Asia offices, its wholly-owned subsidiaries Novatris in France and MediaTransfer AG in Germany, and through a global network of independent market research firms. More information about Harris Interactive may be obtained at http://www.harrisinteractive.com/.
To become a member of the Harris Poll Online and be invited to participate in online surveys, register at http://www.harrispollonline.com/.
Web site: http://www.harrisinteractive.com/ http://www.harrispollonline.com/
About Aaron Reed Aaron Reed is an assistant professor specializing in software architecture and design and .NET development at Neumont University in Salt Lake City, UT. He has worked professionally in the industry for over 12 years as a lead architect/designer, development manager, and VP of development. When he isn't spending time reading up on the latest in software development, Aaron loves spending time with his beautiful wife and three children.
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