Posted on 09/26/2011 11:08:32 PM PDT by crazyhorse691
When it comes to views on global warming, Oregonians are living in "separate realities" based on political ideology, a new online survey indicates.
Liberals and conservatives do line up on a lack of enthusiasm for coal and affection for energy conservation that knocks down utility bills, the survey commissioned by Oregon's Global Warming Commission found.
The survey wasn't scientific, and likely garnered people with stronger views than a random survey would have. Survey designers recruited participants from 40 Oregon-based groups, including business and environmental organizations.
But the ideological divisions among the roughly 2,250 people who completed the survey earlier this year were stark, confirming "many existing stereotypes," a report to the commission concluded.
More than 80 percent of self-described liberals said they "care deeply" about global warming, versus 6 percent of self-described conservatives and 40 percent of moderates.
About three-quarters of conservatives said they were skeptical when they hear talk of climate change, compared to just 2 percent of liberals and a third of moderates.
Among those who reported seeing physical evidence of climate change, liberals were far more likely to chalk it up to human activity and increased carbon in the atmosphere. Conservatives mostly attributed it to naturally occurring weather patterns.
Given the ideological divide, "communications about evidence may only affect a small subset of moderates," the report concluded.
The survey also found some potential common ground.
Even among those who don't believe anything should be done about climate change, strong majorities said Oregon should strive to get more energy from U.S. sources.
But among all respondents, less than 20 percent of conservatives favored coal -- abundant in the United States -- as a top energy source. Less than 10 percent of liberals and moderates did.
Instead, conservatives favored hydropower, nuclear power and natural gas. Liberals and moderates both liked solar and wind; moderates were more likely to favor hydropower.
On energy efficiency, strong majorities of even those who thought no action on climate change was warranted said they'd be willing to improve efficiency in their homes if it would lower utility bills.
They "quickly lost interest if financial incentives were removed," the report says.
Fuse Insight Labs, Mesh Strategic Partners, consulting firm Cogan Owens Cogan and Angus Duncan, the global warming commission's chairman, helped create or conduct the survey.
The commission began in 2007 after Oregon's Legislature adopted greenhouse gas reduction goals. The goals include cutting greenhouse gases 10 percent below 1990 levels by 2020 and 75 percent by 2050.
Commission members will discuss the report at their Oct. 11 meeting.
Seriously? Most libtards stay in the city and use their Prius to drive 2 blocks to get to Starbucks, then use wifi to bitch on Huffpo why Americans are mad at Odumbo. Well, it happens here in West L.A...
Not here in OR. They’re everywhere. Weekend warriors, campers, and hikers.
Cindie
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