Findings from the Fall 2018 NSEE
The National Surveys on Energy and Environment (NSEE) is an on-going biannual national opinion survey on energy and climate policy from University of Michigan and Muhlenberg College.
Key findings
Highlights from the Fall 2018 NSEE include:
- Global Warming Belief
- Acceptance of global warming remains at record levels.
- A majority of Republicans say there is solid evidence that the earth is warming.
- Most Americans connect extreme weather events to the effects of climate change.
- Carbon tax
- A majority of Americans of both parties support a carbon tax when they are told how the revenues would be used.
- Both Democrats and Republicans are more supportive of a carbon tax that would reinvest revenues in clean energy rather than return revenues directly to households.
- Americans are skeptical of a carbon tax in exchange for a regulatory swap.
- Renewable Energy
- Large majorities of Americans of both parties support increasing the use of solar and wind energy in their state.
- The gap between Democrats and Republicans is larger on state policies mandating or subsidizing renewable energy.
- Both Democrats and Republicans see multiple benefits in renewable energy.
- Global Warming and the American Voter
- Most Americans said climate change would have a major or moderate effect on their vote in the 2018 midterm elections.
- A majority of Democrats and Independents disapprove of President Trump's handling of global warming.
For more results from the Fall 2018 NSEE, including opinions on climate change, extreme weather, and support for an extraction tax, see the pre-run data tables.