University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

1. University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire What Do Students & Households Think About Global Warming Issues? Student Researchers: Isaac Borofka-Webb, Drew Christensen, Joy Larson, Ben Ponkratz and Matthew Sackmann Faculty Researcher: Eric Jamelske Department of Economics University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Chippewa Valley Center for Economic Research & Development

2. Overview • The Project • The Survey • The Sample • The Results • Public Awareness • Future Work • Q & A

6. Global Warming OR ????

7. February 2010, Washington DC January 2010

8. Late April 2010 Eau Claire, WI

9. The Project & The Survey • How much do people really know about global warming? • Survey of households and students. • What do residents of the Chippewa Valley think? • What do UWEC Students think?

10. The Project & The Survey • Is global warming really happening? • Why is it happening? • Is it anthropogenic? • Should we be concerned? • What should we do?

15. The Sample • 292 households submitted a completed on-line survey. • -Postcard mailing and news media • 412 UW-Eau Claire students surveyed by paper and pencil in economics, geography, and chemistry classes. • 704 total respondents.

16. The Sample • Student sample was 54% female and 46% male • Household sample was 45% female and 55% male. • In terms of age 93% of students were 18-24 compared to only 13% of household respondents. • The remaining age distribution for households was 20% age 25-44, 50% age 45-64 and 17% over age 65.

17. The Sample • Most households reported annual income between $40,000-$75,000. • 12% earned less than $20,000. • 17% earned over $100,000. • Students were not asked about their income (they are poor).

18. The First Question

19. The First Question

20. Global Warming Not Real • The remaining questions are about the causes of global warming and what we should do to address it. • 40 household respondents said GW is not happening. • New N = 252 • 10student respondents said GW is not happening. • New N = 402 • These respondents were not asked further questions.

21. Cause of Global Warming

22. Cause of Global Warming

23. Cause of Global Warming

24. Cause of Global Warming

25. Re-Cap • Nearly all had an opinion regarding global warming. • Public opinion somewhat divergent. • A majority felt mostly human caused. • Non-trivial amount of skepticism toward anthropogenic cause. • Majority blame manufacturing most. • Some uncertainty regarding most responsible sector.

26. What Should We Do

27. What Should We Do

28. What Should We Do

29. What Should We Do

30. What Should We Do

31. What Should We Do

32. What Should We Do

33. What Should We Do

34. Re-Cap • Of those that believe global warming is real, general consensus that action should be led by government. • Majority also support international agreement to reduce carbon emissions (even without China and India). • Economy is most important current issue. • -Environment is a distant 4th. • Vast majority of reported little/no familiarity with the current US legislative proposals (especially students).

35. Alternative Strategies/Policies

45. Re-Cap • Wind and solar perceived to be most effective alternative sources of energy. • Nuclear and ethanol less so. • Carbon tax, and cap & trade policies also not thought to be very effective strategies. • Much uncertainty regarding effectiveness of alternatives/strategies, especially cap and trade, carbon capture, carbon tax and nuclear.

46. What Should We Do? • Divergent opinions regarding if global warming is real and how concerned we should be. • Uncertainty & divergent opinions regarding global warming causes. • Consensus regarding need for government involvement, but uncertainty and divergent opinions regarding what alternatives and policy strategies would be most effective. • Little to no familiarity with current legislative proposals. • Need for increased public awareness!

47. What Should We Do

48. What Should We Do

49. What Should We Do?

50. What Should We Do?