Americans are sharply divided in their beliefs about whether climate change is real, according to a new study commissioned by The Nature Conservancy and other leading conservation and climate action groups.

The study — the American Climate Values Survey (ACVS), conducted by the consulting group EcoAmerica — also found that only 18 percent of survey respondents strongly believe that climate change is real, human-caused and harmful. It also found that political party affiliation is the single largest indicator as to whether people see climate change as a threat.

Encouragingly, the survey also reveals Americans are very interested and supportive of the benefits of proposed climate change solutions.

So how should conservation organizations do a better job connecting the public with the dangers of climate change — and its potential solutions? Nature.org spoke with Lee Bodner, EcoAmerica's executive director, to get some ideas.

Nature.org: Talk more about the differences between Republicans and Democrats in their attitudes toward climate change.

Lee Bodner: There is a significant partisan divide in concern about global warming and support for solutions.

Overall, 73 percent of Americans believe that global warming is happening. But when you look at this finding by political party affiliation, only one-half (54 percent) of Republicans believe it is happening, versus 90 percent of Democrats.

The presence and size of this divide with respect to environmental action is only a recent phenomenon. Many of the landmark American environmental laws that are still in effect today were signed by Republican presidents.

From Teddy Roosevelt (who created the first national parks) to Richard Nixon (who signed the Clean Air Act and created the Environmental Protection Agency), our history shows that environmental protection doesn't have to be a partisan issue.
 

Nature.org: How deep is this partisan divide over climate change?

Lee Bodner: It doesn't just affect whether you believe climate change is happening.

Political party affiliation was the largest indicator — by significant margins — on whether people see climate change as a threat, believe that it is human-caused, and even whether they've noticed the weather change or trust people who speak about global warming.

For example:

• Convinced it's happening: 54 percent of Republicans, 90 percent of Democrats.
• Think that weather has gotten more severe: 44 percent of Republicans; 77 percent of Democrats.
• Noticed the climate changing: 54 percent of Republicans; 84 percent of Democrats.
• Trust Al Gore when he talks about global warming: 22 percent of Republicans; 71 percent of Democrats.
• Trust environmentalists who talk about global warming: 38 percent of Republicans; 71 percent of Democrats.
• Trust anyone who talks about global warming: 39 percent of Republicans; 75 percent of Democrats.
   

Nature.org: Your survey also found that only 18 percent of respondents strongly believe that global warming is real, caused by humans and is harmful. Should we be discouraged by these findings? Do they mean that conservation groups have an uphill battle in educating the public about climate change?

Lee Bodner: That 18 percent represents the "base" of a growing movement to fight global warming.

But the number of people who support solutions is actually much higher — especially when they see that those solutions are good for their families and for America. In this sense, the survey lays out a roadmap for conservation, environmental and climate groups seeking to educate and motivate the public.

Whatever their beliefs are about global warming, for example, Americans overwhelmingly want to take action to improve public health, create jobs and save money:

• 95 percent agree that "even if it turns out people aren't causing global warming, reducing pollution is still worth it for personal health reasons."
• 82 percent agree that "manufacturing solar panels, wind turbines and other alternative energy equipment is a good way to bring jobs back to the United States."
• Similarly, 85 percent of Americans are interested in electric or hybrid cars, particularly given today's gas prices.
   

Nature.org: How should this change how environmental organizations talk to Americans?

Lee Bodner: We believe the environmental community needs to align on how we talk to Americans about climate change and its solutions:

• We need to speak about climate change as an American issue, in context of visible and tangible affects and solutions.
• We need to communicate that, if solved now, climate-change solutions will provide immediate and long-lasting economic, personal and national benefits.
• And we need to communicate that we can solve this climate crisis — not only because we can prove that we can, but also because Americans need to believe we can solve it in order for them to shift their attitudes and behaviors and ultimately support its solutions.
   

Nature.org: But do individuals feel as if they can really make a difference for the environment? What are some effective ways we can convince them their actions matter?

Lee Bodner: President Lincoln summed it up over 150 years ago: "Public sentiment is everything. With public sentiment, nothing can fail; without it, nothing can succeed."

People's attitudes and actions directly impact change in America, as we have seen with recent events that have caused a backslide in support for the environment (e.g., lifting the ban on oil drilling amidst public outcry for lower gas prices).

Now — more than ever — we must focus on engaging Americans in the support for climate solutions, particularly going into 2009 when the next Congress and the international community will come to a fork in the road.

We'll either choose one of two paths: one that will reverse global warming while creating a new, more prosperous economy; or one that will make us increasingly dependent on a dwindling supply of dirty sources of fuel.

(October 2008)

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Nature picture credits (top to bottom, left to right): Photo © Sergio Pucci/TNC (Tropical dry forest, Karen Mogensen F. Reserve, northeastern Costa Rica); Lee Bodner (courtesy Lee Bodner)