Yale Program on Climate Change Communication

5. Who is Responsible for Action on Global Warming?

5.1. Most registered voters say the United States should reduce greenhouse gas emissions, regardless of what other countries do.

Most registered voters think the United States should reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, regardless of what other countries do (64%). Majorities of liberal Democrats (87%), moderate/conservative Democrats (75%), and liberal/moderate Republicans (55%) take this position, as do 38% of conservative Republicans.

Only 6% of registered voters (including only 2% of Democrats, but 9% of Independents and 11% of Republicans) say the United States should not reduce its emissions (see Data Tables).

5.2. Seven in ten registered voters want corporations and industry to do more to address global warming. Most also want more action from citizens and government.

Across party lines, registered voters say corporations and industry should do more to address global warming (70% of all registered voters; including 91% of liberal Democrats, 82% of moderate/conservative Democrats, 65% of liberal/moderate Republicans, and 44% of conservative Republicans).

Half or more liberal Democrats, moderate/conservative Democrats, and liberal/moderate Republicans also think that citizens, the Republican Party, the U.S. Congress, and local government officials should do more to address global warming. Majorities of liberal Democrats (78%) and conservative/moderate Democrats (60%) think they themselves should do more, while minorities of liberal/moderate Republicans (43%) and conservative Republicans (19%) think so.

About half of liberal/moderate Republicans (54%) think their party (the Republican Party) should do more to address global warming, while only one in four conservative Republicans (26%) think so. Large majorities of both liberal Democrats (82%) and moderate/conservative Democrats (74%) think their party (the Democratic Party) should do more.