Environment

Should Protection of the Environment Be Given Priority, at the Risk of Curbing Economic Growth, or Should Economic Growth Be Given Priority, Even if the Environment Suffers?

How would you rate the overall quality of the environment in this country today -- as excellent, good, only fair, or poor?

	Excellent	Good	Only fair	Poor	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
2009 Mar 5-8	5	34	45	16	*
2008 Mar 6-9	5	35	49	11	*
2007 Mar 11-14	5	35	48	11	1
2006 Mar 13-16	5	35	49	11	*
2005 Mar 7-10	4	37	48	10	1
2004 Mar 8-11	4	39	46	11	*
2003 Mar 3-5	5	36	48	10	1
2002 Mar 4-7	4	43	45	7	1
2001 Mar 5-7	5	41	47	6	1
* Less than 0.5%

Right now, do you think the quality of the environment in the country as a whole is getting better or getting worse?

	Getting better	Getting worse	Same (vol.)	No opinion
	%	%	%	%
2009 Mar 5-8	41	51	5	2
2008 Mar 6-9	26	68	5	1
2007 Mar 11-14	25	67	7	1
2006 Mar 13-16	25	67	6	2
2005 Mar 7-10	29	63	6	2
2004 Mar 8-11	34	58	6	2
2003 Mar 3-5	33	57	8	2
2002 Mar 4-7	40	54	4	2
2001 Mar 5-7	36	57	5	2
(vol.) = Volunteered response

ENVIRONMENTAL OUTLOOK GROUPS

	Positive	Mixed	Negative	Undesignated
	%	%	%	%
2009 Mar 5-8	25	32	41	3
2008 Mar 6-9	22	25	51	1
2007 Mar 11-14	23	23	53	1
2006 Mar 13-16	21	24	52	2
2005 Mar 7-10	24	23	51	2
2004 Mar 8-11	26	26	46	2
2003 Mar 3-5	27	23	47	3
2002 Mar 4-7	29	31	38	2
2001 Mar 5-7	24	34	39	3

With which one of these statements about the environment and the economy do you most agree -- [ROTATED: protection of the environment should be given priority, even at the risk of curbing economic growth (or) economic growth should be given priority, even if the environment suffers to some extent]?

	Environment	Economic growth	Equal priority (vol.)	No opinion
	%	%	%	%
2009 Mar 5-8	42	51	5	3
2008 Mar 6-9	49	42	5	3
2007 Mar 11-14	55	37	4	4
2006 Mar 13-16	52	37	6	4
2005 Mar 7-10	53	36	7	4
2004 Mar 8-11	49	44	4	3
2003 Mar 3-5	47	42	7	4
2002 Mar 4-7	54	36	5	5
2001 Mar 5-7	57	33	6	4
2000 Apr 3-9	67	28	2	3
2000 Jan 13-16	70	23	--	7
1999 Apr 13-14	67	28	--	5
1999 Mar 12-14	65	30	--	5
1998 Apr 17-19	68	24	--	8
1997 Jul 25-27	66	27	--	7
1995 Apr 17-19	62	32	--	6
1992 Jan 5-Mar 31	58	26	8	8
1991 Apr	71	20	--	9
1990 Apr	71	19	--	10
1984 Sep	61	28	--	11
(vol.) = Volunteered response

With which one of these statements about the environment and energy production do you most agree -- [ROTATED: protection of the environment should be given priority, even at the risk of limiting the amount of energy supplies -- such as oil, gas and coal -- which the United States produces (or) development of U.S. energy supplies -- such as oil, gas and coal -- should be given priority, even if the environment suffers to some extent]?

	Environ- ment	Develop- ment of U.S. energy supplies	Both/ Equally (vol.)	Neither/ Other (vol.)	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
2009 Mar 5-8	47	46	3	1	3
2008 Mar 6-9	50	41	4	2	3
2007 Mar 11-14	58	34	3	2	3
2006 Mar 13-16	49	42	4	2	3
2005 Mar 7-10	52	39	4	2	3
2004 Mar 8-11	48	44	3	1	4
2003 Mar 3-5	49	40	5	2	4
2002 Mar 4-7	52	40	3	2	3
2001 Mar 5-7	52	36	6	2	4
(vol.) = Volunteered response

Next I am going to read some specific environmental proposals. For each one, please say whether you generally favor or oppose it. How about -- [RANDOM ORDER]?

Setting higher fuel efficiency standards for automobiles

	Favor	Oppose	No opinion
	%	%	%
2009 Mar 5-8	80	19	1

Imposing mandatory controls on carbon dioxide emissions by businesses

	Favor	Oppose	No opinion
	%	%	%
2009 Mar 5-8	70	28	2

Setting legal limits on the amount of energy that average consumers can use

	Favor	Oppose	No opinion
	%	%	%
2009 Mar 5-8	33	65	2
2002 Mar 4-7	35	62	3
2001 Mar 5-7	35	62	3

Providing tax deductions to Americans who spend money to increase the energy efficiency of their homes

	Favor	Oppose	No opinion
	%	%	%
2009 Mar 5-8	88	10	1

Expanding the use of nuclear energy

	Favor	Oppose	No opinion
	%	%	%
2007 Mar 11-14	50	46	4
2006 Mar 13-16	55	40	5
2003 Mar 3-5	43	51	6
2002 Mar 4-7	45	51	4
2001 Mar 5-7	44	51	5

Opening up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska for oil exploration

	Favor	Oppose	No opinion
	%	%	%
2007 Mar 11-14	41	57	2
2006 Mar 13-16	49	47	4
2003 Mar 3-5	41	55	4
2002 Mar 4-7	40	56	4
2001 Nov 8-11 ^	44	51	5
2001 May 7-9 ^ †	38	57	5
2001 Mar 5-7 †	40	56	4

^ Next, here are some things that can be done to deal with the energy situation. For each one, please say whether you generally favor or oppose it. How about -- [RANDOM ORDER]?
† WORDING: Opening up the Alaskan Arctic Wildlife Refuge for oil exploration.

More strongly enforcing federal environmental regulations

	Favor	Oppose	No opinion
	%	%	%
2007 Mar 11-14	82	15	3
2006 Mar 13-16	79	20	2
2003 Mar 3-5	75	21	4
2002 Mar 4-7	78	19	3
2001 Mar 5-7	77	20	3

Setting higher auto emissions standards for automobiles

	Favor	Oppose	No opinion
	%	%	%
2007 Mar 11-14	79	18	2
2006 Mar 13-16	73	25	2
2003 Mar 3-5	73	24	3
2002 Mar 4-7	72	26	2
2001 Mar 5-7	75	23	2

Setting higher emissions and pollution standards for business and industry

	Favor	Oppose	No opinion
	%	%	%
2007 Mar 11-14	84	15	1
2006 Mar 13-16	77	22	1
2003 Mar 3-5	80	19	1
2002 Mar 4-7	83	16	1
2001 Mar 5-7	81	17	2

Imposing mandatory controls on carbon dioxide emissions and other greenhouse gases

	Favor	Oppose	No opinion
2007 Mar 11-14	79%	19	2
2006 Mar 13-16	75%	23	3
2003 Mar 3-5	75%	22	3

Spending more government money on developing solar and wind power

	Favor	Oppose	No opinion
2007 Mar 11-14	81%	17	1
2006 Mar 13-16	77%	21	2
2001 Mar 5-7	79%	19	2

Spending government money to develop alternate sources of fuel for automobiles

	Favor	Oppose	No opinion
2007 Mar 11-14	86%	12	1
2006 Mar 13-16	85%	14	1

I'm going to read you a list of environmental problems. As I read each one, please tell me if you personally worry about this problem a great deal, a fair amount, only a little, or not at all. First, how much do you personally worry about -- [RANDOM ORDER]?

Pollution of rivers, lakes, and reservoirs

	Great deal	Fair amount	Only a little	Not at all	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
2009 Mar 5-8	52	31	13	4	*
2008 Mar 6-9	50	34	12	4	--
2007 Mar 11-14	53	31	13	3	--
2006 Mar 13-16	51	33	11	5	*
2004 Mar 8-11	48	31	16	5	*
2003 Mar 3-5	51	31	13	5	--
2002 Mar 4-7	53	32	12	3	*
2001 Mar 5-7	58	29	10	3	*
2000 Apr 3-9	66	24	8	2	*
1999 Apr 13-14	61	30	7	2	*
1999 Mar 12-14	55	30	12	3	*
1991 Apr 11-14	67	21	8	3	1
1990 Apr 5-8	64	23	9	4	--
1989 May 4-7	72	19	5	3	1
* Less than 0.5%

Air pollution

	Great deal	Fair amount	Only a little	Not at all	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
2009 Mar 5-8	45	31	18	6	*
2008 Mar 6-9	43	35	17	6	--
2007 Mar 11-14	46	33	15	5	*
2006 Mar 13-16	44	34	15	7	*
2004 Mar 8-11	39	30	23	8	*
2003 Mar 3-5	42	32	20	6	*
2002 Mar 4-7	45	33	18	4	*
2001 Mar 5-7	48	34	14	4	*
2000 Apr 3-9	59	29	9	3	*
1999 Apr 13-14	52	35	10	3	*
1999 Mar 12-14	47	33	16	4	*
1997 Oct 27-28	42	34	18	5	1
1991 Apr 11-14	59	28	10	4	*
1990 Apr 5-8	58	29	9	4	*
1989 May 4-7	63	24	8	4	*
* Less than 0.5%

The loss of tropical rain forests

	Great deal	Fair amount	Only a little	Not at all	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
2009 Mar 5-8	42	26	21	11	*
2008 Mar 6-9	40	29	20	11	*
2007 Mar 11-14	43	30	17	10	1
2006 Mar 13-16	40	24	22	13	1
2004 Mar 8-11	35	26	23	15	1
2003 Mar 3-5	39	29	21	11	*
2002 Mar 4-7	38	27	21	12	2
2001 Mar 5-7	44	32	15	8	1
2000 Apr 3-9	51	25	14	9	1
1999 Apr 13-14	49	30	14	6	1
1991 Apr 11-14	42	25	21	10	2
1990 Apr 5-8	40	24	19	14	3
1989 May 4-7	42	25	18	12	3
* Less than 0.5%

Global warming

	Great deal	Fair amount	Only a little	Not at all	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
2009 Mar 5-8^	34	26	20	20	1
2008 Mar 6-9	37	29	16	17	1
2007 Mar 11-14	41	24	18	16	1
2006 Mar 13-16	36	26	21	15	1
2004 Mar 8-11	26	25	28	19	2
2003 Mar 3-5	28	30	23	17	2
2002 Mar 4-7	29	29	23	17	2
2001 Mar 5-7	33	30	22	13	2
2000 Apr 3-9	40	32	15	12	1
1999 Apr 13-14	34	34	18	12	2
1999 Mar 12-14	28	31	23	16	2
1997 Oct 27-28	24	26	29	17	4
1991 Apr 11-14	35	27	22	12	5
1990 Apr 5-8	30	27	20	16	6
1989 May 4-7	35	28	18	12	7

^ SPLIT-SAMPLE WORDING : (FORM A) The "greenhouse effect" or global warming; (FORM B) Global warming
1989-2008 WORDING: The "greenhouse effect" or global warming

Contamination of soil and water by toxic waste

	Great deal	Fair amount	Only a little	Not at all	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
2009 Mar 5-8	52	28	14	5	*
2008 Mar 6-9	50	30	14	6	*
2007 Mar 11-14	52	28	13	7	*
2006 Mar 13-16	52	29	13	6	*
2004 Mar 8-11	48	26	21	5	*
2003 Mar 3-5	51	28	16	5	*
2002 Mar 4-7	53	29	15	3	*
2001 Mar 5-7	58	27	12	3	*
2000 Apr 3-9	64	25	7	4	*
1999 Apr 13-14	63	27	7	3	*
1999 Mar 12-14	55	29	11	5	*
1991 Apr 11-14	62	21	11	5	1
1990 Apr 5-8	63	22	10	5	*
1989 May 4-7	69	21	6	3	*
* Less than 0.5%

Pollution of drinking water

	Great deal	Fair amount	Only a little	Not at all	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
2009 Mar 5-8	59	25	11	5	*
2008 Mar 6-9	53	28	13	6	*
2007 Mar 11-14	58	24	12	5	*
2006 Mar 13-16	54	27	12	7	*
2004 Mar 8-11	53	24	17	6	*
2003 Mar 3-5	54	25	15	6	--
2002 Mar 4-7	57	25	13	5	*
2001 Mar 5-7	64	24	9	3	*
2000 Apr 3-9	72	20	6	2	*
1999 Apr 13-14	68	22	7	3	*
1991 Apr 11-4	67	19	10	3	1
1990 Apr 5-8	65	22	9	4	*
* Less than 0.5%

Extinction of plant and animal species

	Great deal	Fair amount	Only a little	Not at all	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
2009 Mar 5-8	37	28	22	12	*
2008 Mar 6-9	37	31	20	11	*
2007 Mar 11-14	39	30	19	12	*
2006 Mar 13-16	34	29	23	14	1
2004 Mar 8-11	36	26	23	15	*
2003 Mar 3-5	34	32	21	12	1
2002 Mar 4-7	35	30	22	12	1
2001 Mar 5-7	43	30	19	7	1
2000 Apr 3-9	45	33	14	8	*
* Less than 0.5%

Maintenance of the nation's supply of fresh water for household needs

	Great deal	Fair amount	Only a little	Not at all	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
2009 Mar 5-8	49	31	14	5	*
2008 Mar 6-9	48	31	15	5	*
2007 Mar 11-14	51	27	16	5	*
2006 Mar 13-16	49	27	14	9	1
2004 Mar 8-11	47	25	20	8	*
2003 Mar 3-5	49	28	15	8	*
2002 Mar 4-7	50	28	17	5	*
2001 Mar 5-7	35	34	19	10	2
2000 Apr 3-9	42	31	14	12	1
* Less than 0.5%

Damage to the earth's ozone layer

	Great deal	Fair amount	Only a little	Not at all	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
2008 Mar 6-9	39	29	19	12	1
2007 Mar 11-14	43	27	19	11	*
2006 Mar 13-16	40	28	19	13	*
2004 Mar 8-11	33	27	26	14	*
2003 Mar 3-5	35	31	21	12	1
2002 Mar 4-7	38	29	21	11	1
2001 Mar 5-7	47	28	16	8	1
2000 Apr 3-9	49	29	14	7	1
1999 Apr 13-14	44	32	15	8	1
1997 Oct 27-28	33	27	25	13	2
1991 Apr 11-14	49	24	16	8	4
1990 Apr 5-8	43	28	15	10	4
1989 May 4-7	51	26	13	8	2
* Less than 0.5%

Acid rain

	Great deal	Fair amount	Only a little	Not at all	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
2008 Mar 6-9	23	27	26	23	1
2007 Mar 11-14	25	25	28	20	1
2006 Mar 13-16	24	28	24	23	1
2004 Mar 8-11	20	26	27	26	1
2003 Mar 3-5	24	26	27	21	2
2002 Mar 4-7	25	23	31	19	2
2001 Mar 5-7	28	28	26	16	2
2000 Apr 3-9	34	31	19	15	1
1999 Apr 13-14	29	35	23	11	2
1991 Apr 11-14	34	30	20	14	3
1990 Apr 5-8	34	30	18	14	4
1989 May 4-7	41	27	19	11	3

The loss of natural habitat for wildlife

	Great deal	Fair amount	Only a little	Not at all	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
2008 Mar 6-9	44	33	17	6	*
2001 Mar 5-7	48	33	15	4	*
2000 Apr 3-9	51	31	13	5	*
1999 Apr 13-14	51	31	13	5	*
1991 Apr 11-14	53	27	15	5	1
1990 Apr 5-8	51	30	12	7	*
1989 May 4-7	58	27	9	5	1
* Less than 0.5%

Urban sprawl and loss of open spaces

	Great deal	Fair amount	Only a little	Not at all	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
2008 Mar 6-9	33	35	19	12	*
2001 Mar 5-7	35	34	19	10	2
2000 Apr 3-9	42	31	14	12	1
* Less than 0.5%

Which of the following statements reflects your view of when the effects of global warming will begin to happen -- [ROTATED: they have already begun to happen, they will start happening within a few years, they will start happening within your lifetime, they will not happen within your lifetime, but they will affect future generations, (or) they will never happen]?

	Already begun	Within a few years	Within your lifetime	Not within lifetime, but affect future	Will never happen	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%	%
2009 Mar 5-8	53	5	10	15	16	2
2008 Mar 6-9	61	4	10	13	11	1
2007 Mar 23-25	60	4	7	15	11	3
2007 Mar 11-14	59	3	8	19	8	3
2006 Mar 13-16	58	5	10	15	8	3
2005 Mar 7-10	54	5	10	19	9	3
2004 Mar 8-11	51	5	12	18	11	3
2003 Mar 3-5	51	6	12	17	10	4
2002 Mar 4-7	53	5	13	17	9	3
2001 Mar 5-7	54	4	13	18	7	4
1997 Nov 6-9	48	3	14	19	9	7

Thinking about what is said in the news, in your view is the seriousness of global warming -- [ROTATED: generally exaggerated, generally correct, or is it generally underestimated]?

	Generally exaggerated	Generally correct	Generally under- estimated	No opinion
	%	%	%	%
2009 Mar 5-8	41	29	28	2
2008 Mar 6-9	35	33	29	2
2007 Mar 11-14	33	29	35	4
2006 Mar 13-16	30	28	38	4
2005 Mar 7-10	31	29	35	5
2004 Mar 8-11	38	25	33	4
2003 Mar 3-5	33	29	33	5
2002 Mar 4-7	31	32	32	5
2001 Mar 5-7	30	34	32	4
1997 Nov 6-9 ^	31	34	27	8
^ Based on half sample

Do you think that global warming will pose a serious threat to you or your way of life in your lifetime?

	Yes	No	No opinion
2009 Mar 5-8	38%	60	2
2008 Mar 6-9	40%	58	2
2006 Mar 13-16	35%	62	2
2002 Mar 4-7	33%	65	2
2001 Mar 5-7	31%	66	3
1997 Nov 6-9 ^	25%	69	6
^ Asked of a half sample

When it comes to environmental protection, which of these do you think is happening under the Bush administration -- [ROTATED: the nation's environmental protection policies are being strengthened, the nation's environmental policies are being kept about the same, or the nation's environmental protection policies are being weakened]?

	Strengthened	Kept about the same	Weakened	No opinion
	%	%	%	%
2008 Mar 6-9	6	52	39	3
2007 Mar 11-14	6	53	39	2
2006 Mar 13-16 ^	5	49	43	3
2005 Mar 7-10 ^	5	52	40	3
2004 Mar 8-11 ^	6	53	39	2
2003 Mar 3-5 ^	9	53	35	3
^ Asked of a half sample

Thinking specifically about the environmental movement, do you think of yourself as -- an active participant in the environmental movement, sympathetic towards the movement, but not active, neutral, or unsympathetic towards the environmental movement?

	Active participant	Sympathetic, but not active	Neutral	Unsym- pathetic	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
2008 Mar 6-9	22	47	25	6	1
2007 Mar 11-14	21	49	23	5	2
2006 Mar 13-16	14	48	29	7	2
2005 Mar 7-10	16	49	28	5	2
2004 Mar 8-11	14	47	30	8	1
2003 Mar 3-5	14	47	32	6	1
2002 Mar 4-7	19	51	24	5	1
2001 Mar 5-7	18	50	25	5	2
2000 Apr 3-9	16	55	23	5	1

All in all, which of the following best describes how you feel about the environmental problems facing the earth -- life on earth will continue without major environmental disruptions only if we take additional, immediate, and drastic action concerning the environment, we should take some additional actions concerning the environment, or, we should take just the same actions we have been taking on the environment?

	Immediate, drastic action	Some additional actions	Same action	No opinion
	%	%	%	%
2008 Mar 6-9	34	52	13	1
2007 Mar 11-14	38	48	13	1
2003 Mar 3-5	23	56	20	1
2002 Mar 4-7	26	58	14	2
2001 Mar 5-7	27	56	15	2
1995 Apr 17-19	35	48	15	2

Next, thinking about the issue of global warming, sometimes called the "greenhouse effect," how well do you feel you understand this issue -- would you say very well, fairly well, not very well, or not at all?

	Very well	Fairly well	Not very well	Not at all	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
2008 Mar 6-9	21	59	18	2	*
2007 Mar 11-14	22	54	19	4	*
2006 Mar 13-16	21	53	20	6	*
2005 Mar 7-10	16	54	24	6	*
2004 Mar 8-11	18	50	26	6	*
2003 Mar 3-5	15	53	27	5	--
2002 Mar 4-7	17	52	25	6	*
2001 Mar 5-7	15	54	24	6	1
1997 Nov 6-9	16	45	28	10	1
1992 Jan	11	42	22	22	3
* Less than 0.5%

Just your impression, which one of the following statements do you think is most accurate -- most scientists believe that global warming is occurring, most scientists believe that global warming is NOT occurring, or most scientists are unsure about whether global warming is occurring or not?

	Is occurring	Not occurring	Unsure	No opinion
2008 Mar 6-9	65%	7	26	3
2006 Mar 13-16	65%	3	29	3
2001 Mar 5-7	61%	4	30	5
1997 Nov 21-23	48%	7	39	6

And from what you have heard or read, do you believe increases in the Earth's temperature over the last century are due more to -- [ROTATED: the effects of pollution from human activities (or) natural changes in the environment that are not due to human activities]?

	Human activities	Natural causes	No opinion
2008 Mar 6-9	58%	38	5
2007 Mar 11-14	61%	35	5
2006 Mar 13-16	58%	36	6
2003 Mar 3-5	61%	33	6
2001 Mar 5-7	61%	33	6

Do you think the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska should or should not be opened up for oil exploration?

	Yes, should	No, should not	No opinion
2008 Mar 6-9	43%	52	6
2005 Mar 7-10	42%	53	5
2002 Mar 18-20	35%	56	9

Thinking about your own shopping and living habits over the last five years, would you say you have made major changes, minor changes or no changes to help protect the environment?

	Made major changes	Made minor changes	Made no changes	No opinion
	%	%	%	%
2008 Mar 6-9	28	55	17	*

2003 Mar 3-5 ^	23	61	15	1
2000 Apr 3-9	31	58	11	*
* Less than 0.5%
^ Asked of a half sample

(Asked of those who have made changes in habits to help protect the environment) What are some of the specific changes you have made in your shopping and living habits to help protect the environment? [OPEN-ENDED]

	Mar 6-9, 2008

Recycle/Recycle more	39
Drive less/Consolidate trips/Carpool	17
Buy biodegradable products	14
Use less electricity/Conserve energy	10
Drive more fuel-efficient car/Maintain car	9
Buy/Use more "green" products	7
Use energy saving light bulbs	7
Eat more organic/home-grown foods	5
Conserve water	5
Upgrade to energy saving appliances in home	4
Don't litter	3
Make home more energy efficient -- install new windows, insulation, solar panels, etc.	2

Other	7

None/Nothing	2

No opinion	12

NOTE: Responses add to more than 100% due to multiple mentions

If efforts to address the effects of global warming are not increased, which comes closest to your view of what will happen in 50 years -- there will be extreme changes in climate and weather, with disastrous consequences in some parts of the world, there will be major changes in climate and weather, but most people and animals will be able to adapt, or there will be minor changes that will have little effect on the way people live?

	Extreme changes	Major changes	Minor changes	No changes (vol.)	No opinion
2007 Mar 23-25	28%	38	19	11	3
(vol.) = Volunteered response

Do you think the effects of global warming can be controlled if most people take steps such as driving less, recycling, and turning down their thermostat, or will more drastic measures be needed?

	Can be controlled this way	More drastic measures needed	No opinion
2007 Mar 23-25	30%	58	11

Next, I'm going to read a list of steps individuals can take to reduce global warming. Please say for each if that is something you, personally, should or should not be doing. How about -- [RANDOM ORDER]?

A. Using only fluorescent light bulbs in your home

	Should be doing	Should not be doing	Does not apply (vol.)	No opinion
2007 Mar 23-25	69%	27	1	3
(vol.) = Volunteered response

B. Installing a solar panel to produce energy for your home

	Should be doing	Should not be doing	Does not apply (vol.)	No opinion
2007 Mar 23-25	71%	27	1	1

C. Unplugging your TV, computer, or other electronic equipment when you are not using it

	Should be doing	Should not be doing	Does not apply (vol.)	No opinion
2007 Mar 23-25	57%	39	1	2

D. Buying a hybrid car

	Should be doing	Should not be doing	Does not apply (vol.)	No opinion
2007 Mar 23-25	62%	33	1	4
(vol.) = Volunteered response

E. Supporting the construction of a nuclear energy plant within 20 miles of your home

	Should be doing	Should not be doing	Does not apply (vol.)	No opinion
2007 Mar 23-25	34%	62	1	3

F. Spending several thousand dollars to make your home as energy efficient as possible

	Should be doing	Should not be doing	Does not apply (vol.)	No opinion
2007 Mar 23-25	78%	19	2	1

G. Riding mass transit such as buses and subways whenever possible

	Should be doing	Should not be doing	Does not apply (vol.)	No opinion
2007 Mar 23-25	77%	18	5	1
(vol.) = Volunteered response

Now, I'm going to read a list of steps the government can take to reduce global warming. Please say for each if that is something the government should or should not be doing. How about -- [RANDOM ORDER]?

A. Imposing restrictions on U.S. industries and utilities that are so tough it would put some of them out of business

	Should be doing	Should not be doing	No opinion
2007 Mar 23-25	38%	58	3

B. Banning vehicles that do not average at least 30 miles per gallon

	Should be doing	Should not be doing	No opinion
2007 Mar 23-25	44%	55	2

C. Requiring a surcharge on the utility bills of home and business owners that exceed monthly limits on energy usage

	Should be doing	Should not be doing	No opinion
2007 Mar 23-25	46%	52	2

D. Setting strict land use policies to discourage suburban sprawl and encourage people to live in more densely populated areas

	Should be doing	Should not be doing	No opinion
2007 Mar 23-25	36%	60	3

E. Requiring government office buildings to use renewable sources of energy such as solar and wind power, even if it results in higher taxes

	Should be doing	Should not be doing	No opinion
2007 Mar 23-25	60%	38	2

F. Starting a major research effort costing up to $30 billion per year to develop new sources of energy

	Should be doing	Should not be doing	No opinion
2007 Mar 23-25	65%	33	2

How much of a factor should the environmental record of a company be when you are deciding whether or not to buy one of its products? Should it be -- the most important factor, important, but not the most important factor, or should you not take this into account when deciding to buy products?

	Most important factor	Important factor	Should not take into account	No opinion
2007 Mar 23-25	13%	70	15	2

All in all, how good a job would you say you, personally, are doing in protecting the environment?

	Excellent	Good	Only fair	Poor	No opinion
2007 Mar 23-25	7%	52	34	5	1

How much progress do you think has been made in dealing with environmental problems over the past twenty years? Would you say there has been a great deal of progress, only some progress, or hardly any progress at all?

	Great deal of progress	Only some progress	Hardly any progress at all	No opinion
	%	%	%	%
2007 Mar 11-14	18	60	21	1
2002 Mar 4-7	27	60	12	1
2001 Mar 5-7 ^	25	65	8	2
2000 Apr 3-9 †	26	64	9	1
1999 Apr 13-14 †	36	55	8	1
1995 Apr 17-19 †	24	61	14	1
1991 Apr 11-14 †	18	61	19	1
1990 Apr 5-8 †	14	63	21	2

^ Asked of a half sample
† WORDING: How much progress have we made in dealing with environmental problems in the past few decades--say since 1970? Would you say we have made a great deal of progress, only some progress, or hardly any progress at all?

How much optimism do you have that we will have our environmental problems well under control in twenty years -- that is, by about 2027 -- a great deal of optimism, only some optimism, or hardly any optimism at all?

	Great deal of optimism	Only some optimism	Hardly any optimism	No opinion
	%	%	%	%
2007 Mar 11-14	15	57	26	1
2002 Mar 4-7 ^	17	61	21	1
2001 Mar 5-7	15	65	19	1
2000 Apr 3-9	18	60	21	1
1999 Apr 13-14	18	62	18	2
1991 Apr 11-14	19	60	18	2
1990 Apr 5-8	18	58	22	2
^ Asked of a half sample

All things considered, do you think the environmental movement in this nation has done more good than harm, or more harm than good? Would you say it has done -- definitely more good than harm, probably more good than harm, probably more harm than good, or definitely more harm than good?

	Definitely more good than harm	Probably more good than harm	Probably more harm than good	Definitely more harm than good	No opinion
2007 Mar 11-14	22%	44	21	10	3
2005 Mar 7-10	22%	47	19	9	3
2000 Apr 3-9	33%	42	12	9	4
1992 Jan 5-Mar 31	33%	43	11	3	11

Thinking about the increase in strength of hurricanes in recent years, do you think global warming has been a major cause, a minor cause, or not a cause of the increase in strength of hurricanes?

	Major cause	Minor cause	Not a cause	No opinion
2006 Mar 13-16	35%	33	26	6

As I read the following list, please tell me how much you trust each of the following to protect the quality of our nation's environment--a great deal, a moderate amount, a slight amount, or none at all? [RANDOM ORDER]

A. Federal environmental agencies like the EPA

	Great deal	Moderate amount	Slight amount	None at all	No opinion
2005 Mar 7-10	22%	42	25	7	4
2000 Apr 3-9	27%	45	18	9	1

B. Large corporations

	Great deal	Moderate amount	Slight amount	None at all	No opinion
2005 Mar 7-10	7%	17	31	44	1
2000 Apr 3-9	9%	28	33	29	1

C. State environmental agencies

	Great deal	Moderate amount	Slight amount	None at all	No opinion
2005 Mar 7-10	16%	48	28	6	2
2000 Apr 3-9	21%	51	19	8	1

D. National environmental organizations

	Great deal	Moderate amount	Slight amount	None at all	No opinion
2005 Mar 7-10	25%	42	22	8	3
2000 Apr 3-9	34%	44	17	7	1

E. The U.S. Congress

	Great deal	Moderate amount	Slight amount	None at all	No opinion
2005 Mar 7-10	11%	34	39	14	2
2000 Apr 3-9	10%	38	31	20	1

F. Local environmental organizations

	Great deal	Moderate amount	Slight amount	None at all	No opinion
2005 Mar 7-10	26%	43	22	6	3
2000 Apr 3-9	28%	46	19	6	1

G. Small businesses

	Great deal	Moderate amount	Slight amount	None at all	No opinion
2005 Mar 7-10	15%	30	35	18	2
2000 Apr 3-9	13%	35	34	18	*
* Less than 0.5%

H. Local government agencies

	Great deal	Moderate amount	Slight amount	None at all	No opinion
2005 Mar 7-10	11%	40	37	10	2
2000 Apr 3-9	12%	47	28	13	*

I. The Republican Party

	Great deal	Moderate amount	Slight amount	None at all	No opinion
2005 Mar 7-10	9%	32	30	26	3
2000 Apr 3-9	10%	33	32	24	1

J. The Democratic Party

	Great deal	Moderate amount	Slight amount	None at all	No opinion
2005 Mar 7-10	15%	37	29	16	3
2000 Apr 3-9	15%	41	26	17	1

If the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge WERE NOT opened up for oil exploration, would you be -- very upset, somewhat upset, not too upset, or not at all upset?

If the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge WERE opened up for oil exploration, would you be -- very upset, somewhat upset, not too upset, or not at all upset?

[COMBINED RESPONSES]

	Should, upset if does not	Should, not upset if does not	Should not, not upset if does	Should not, upset if does	No opinion
2005 Mar 7-10	19%	23	8	45	5
2002 Mar 18-20	14%	21	13	43	9

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