The online survey of representative national samples also shows that belief in man-made climate change has reached the highest level in the United States since 2009, and has fallen considerably in Britain.

Overall, half of Canadians (52%, -8 since October) and Americans (49%, +7) say that that global warming is a fact and is mostly caused by emissions from vehicles and industrial facilities. Only 43 per cent of Britons (-4) agree with this assessment.

In the United States, one-in-five respondents (20%, -5) think that global warming is a theory that has not yet been proven, along with 20 per cent of Britons (+2) and 14 per cent of Canadians (=).

More than half of Canadians (55%, -6) believe it is more important to protect the environment, even at the risk of hampering economic growth, while 22 per cent (+4) would prefer to foster economic growth, even at the risk of damaging the environment.

In the United States, 47 per cent of respondents (+2) would emphasize protecting the environment, while 26 per cent (-4) would foster economic growth. The biggest change since last year comes in Britain, where only 40 per cent of respondents would protect the environment (-11) and 33 per cent would prefer to foster economic growth (+11).

Analysis

Since 2009, Angus Reid Public Opinion has conducted five three-country surveys on global warming. The latest poll outlines one of the lowest proportions of believers in man-made climate change ever recorded in Canada (52%). Still, Canadians are more likely than Americans or Britons to both believe in emissions as the primary source of global warming and to choose environmental protection over economic growth.

In the United States, despite the economic crisis, belief in man-made global warming has reached the high level that was observed before the so-called “climate-gate” controversy. In addition, the proportion of Americans who brand climate change as an unproven theory fell by five points, the biggest fluctuation observed in the past three years.

Britain has become the main source of skepticism, with the lowest proportion of believers in man-made global warming, and with a third of Britons acknowledging that they would foster economic growth even at the risk of damaging the environment—the largest proportion observed in all three countries.

Full Report, Detailed Tables and Methodology (PDF)

CONTACT:

Mario Canseco, Vice President, Angus Reid Public Opinion
+877 730 3570
mario.canseco@angus-reid.com

Methodology: From August 25 to September 2, 2010 Angus Reid Public Opinion conducted an online survey among 1,001 Canadian adults who are Angus Reid Forum panellists, 1,000 American adults who are Springboard America panellists, and 2,005 British adults who are Springboard UK panellists. The margin of error—which measures sampling variability—is +/- 3.1% for Canada and the United States, and 2.2 per cent for Great Britain. The results have been statistically weighted according to the most current education, age, gender and region Census data to ensure samples representative of the entire adult population of Canada, the U.S. and Great Britain. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.

In the online survey of a representative national sample of 2,023 British adults, 43 per cent of respondents support building more nuclear power stations in the UK, down eight points since July 2010 and 12 points since November 2009. Conversely, the level of opposition to this idea has risen to 37 per cent, up six points in less than a year.

Across Britain, 45 per cent of respondents believe the UK should avoid nuclear energy and focus on other carbon-free sources of energy, while 38 per cent would further pursue nuclear energy capabilities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The percentage of respondents who support either of these two statements has flipped since last year.

At least two thirds of Britons remain “very concerned” or “moderately concerned” about nuclear waste management (77%), health risks for communities that are close to a nuclear power station (69%), an accident at a nuclear power plant (69%), and nuclear technology falling into the hands of extremists (68%).

Earlier this year, the German government suspended the extension and expansion plans of nuclear power plants and the Swiss government has suspended the approval for new construction of nuclear power plants. Three-in-five respondents (60%) believe the British government should be taking similar steps, and two-in-five (41%) consider nuclear energy as more dangerous than other forms of energy.

Analysis

The situation in Japan has led to a noticeable shift in the way Britons feel about nuclear power. A majority of respondents backed an expansion in November 2009 and July 2010, but support has dropped noticeably. Also, the notion of nuclear power being a better alternative to reduce greenhouse gases is not as popular as last year. Many Britons are now embracing other carbon-free sources of energy.

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Download Full Methodology Statement

Full Report, Detailed Tables and Methodology (PDF)

CONTACT:

Mario Canseco, Vice President, Angus Reid Public Opinion
+877 730 3570
mario.canseco@angus-reid.com

Methodology: From April 8 to April 11, 2011, Angus Reid Public Opinion conducted an online survey among 2,023 randomly selected British adults who are Springboard UK panelists. The margin of error—which measures sampling variability—is +/- 2.2%. The results have been statistically weighted according to the most current education, age, gender and region data to ensure samples representative of the entire adult population of Great Britain. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.

The considerable level of uncertainty that Britons expressed earlier this year towards global warming has subsided, as more people in the country regard climate change as a fact, a new three-country Angus Reid Public Opinion poll has found.

The online survey of representative national samples also shows that Canadians continue to lead the way in the belief that global warming is caused by emissions, while Americans remain particularly doubtful.

Overall, three-in-five Canadians (60%, +2 since April) say that that global warming is a fact and is mostly caused by emissions from vehicles and industrial facilities. This month, 47 per cent of Britons agree with this assessment, up nine points in six months. Americans are the most skeptical at 42 per cent (+1).

In the United States, a quarter of respondents (25%, unchanged) believe global warming is a theory that has not yet been proven, along with 18 per cent of Britons (-9) and 14 per cent of Canadians (-4).

Three-in-five Canadians (61%) think it is more important to protect the environment, even at the risk of hampering economic growth, while 18 per cent would prefer to foster economic growth, even at the risk of damaging the environment.

Half of Britons would rather protect the environment (51%) than foster economic growth (22%). The views of Americans are more nuanced on this issue (45% to 30%).

Analysis

Canadians went through a period of global warming disbelief at the end of 2009, when the proportion of respondents who saw climate change as a fact mostly caused by emissions fell by 11 points. Now, Canadians are closer to their pre-Copenhagen summit numbers.

In stark contrast, the views of Americans have not recovered since last year’s plunge. Twice in 2010, a quarter of respondents have branded climate change as an unproven theory—six points higher than in November 2009.

In Britain, the conclusion of the so-called “climate-gate” has left opinions about global warming at roughly the same levels as before the controversy first began. The big drop experienced in April has dissipated, and Britons are now closer to Canadians on this issue.

Full Report, Detailed Tables and Methodology (PDF)

CONTACT:

Mario Canseco, Vice President, Communications & Media Relations
+877 730 3570
mario.canseco@angus-reid.com

Methodology: From October 4 to October 17, 2010 Angus Reid Public Opinion conducted an online survey among 1,009 Canadian adults who are Angus Reid Forum panellists, 1,003 American adults who are Springboard America panellists, and 1,948 British adults who are Springboard UK panellists. The margin of error—which measures sampling variability—is +/- 3.1% for Canada and the United States, and 2.2 per cent for Great Britain. The results have been statistically weighted according to the most current education, age, gender and region Census data to ensure samples representative of the entire adult population of Canada, the US and Great Britain. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.

The term global warming refers to an increase of the Earth’s average temperature. Some theories say that climate change might be the result of human-generated carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. In 2007, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released a report which states that global warming has been "very likely"—or 90 per cent certain—caused by humans burning fossil fuels.

In 1998, several countries agreed to the Kyoto Protocol, a proposed amendment to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The agreement commits nations to reduce their emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.

In October 2007, former U.S. vice-president Al Gore and the IPCC were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize "for their efforts to build up and disseminate greater knowledge about man-made climate change, and to lay the foundations for the measures that are needed to counteract such change."

The Copenhagen Climate Change Summit took place in December 2009. Countries attending the summit were supposed to draft a new agreement to replace the Kyoto Protocol, which is due to expire in 2012.

The final version of the Copenhagen Accord—which is not legally binding—includes pledges by signatories to hold the increase in global temperatures below two degrees Celsius, create a fund to help poor nations adapt to climate change that will grow to $100 billion U.S. annually by 2020, and aim to reduce worldwide emissions by 50 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020.

Earlier this month, U.S. president Barack Obama called for a global approach to deal with climate change, "The point we’ve tried to make is we can’t, we can’t allow China to wait. We have to take responsibility and do what needs to be done, but if emerging countries not just China but also India, Brazil and others are pursuing a path in which they replace us as the largest carbon emitters, that’s not a sustainable practical approach. So we’re going to have to have everybody moving on the same track at the same time."

Polling Data

Which of the following statements comes closest to your view of global warming (or climate change)?

Complete Poll (PDF)

While a majority of Canadians believe global warming is caused by man, people in the United States and Britain are becoming more skeptical about climate change, a new Angus Reid Public Opinion poll has found.

In the online survey of representative national samples, almost three-in-five Canadians (58%) say global warming is a fact and is mostly caused by emissions from vehicles and industrial facilities. This view is shared by about two-in-five Americans (41%) and Britons (38%).

One-in-four Britons (26%), 20 per cent of Americans and 17 per cent of Canadians think global warming is a fact and is mostly caused by natural changes.

Finally, one-in-four Britons (27%) and Americans (25%) and 18 per cent of Canadians think global warming is a theory that has not yet been proven.

The proportion of Canadians who believe global warming is an unproven theory has remained stable since November 2009.

However, Americans and Britons have gradually become more doubtful about climate change. In both countries, the proportion of respondents who brand global warming as an unproven theory has increased by six points since November.

Environment and the Economy

A large proportion of Canadians (63%) think it is more important to protect the environment, even at the risk of hampering economic growth, while 18 per cent would prefer to foster economic growth, even at the risk of damaging the environment.

Almost half of Britons would rather protect the environment (46%) than foster economic growth (29%). Americans are closely divided on this issue (40% to 34%).

Full Report, Detailed Tables and Methodology (PDF)

CONTACT:

Mario Canseco, Vice President, Public Affairs
+877 730 3570
mario.canseco@angus-reid.com

Methodology: From April 6 to April 12, 2010 Angus Reid Public Opinion conducted an online survey among 1,006 Canadian adults who are Angus Reid Forum panellists, 1,005 American adults who are Springboard America panellists, and 2,006 British adults who are Springboard UK panellists. The margin of error—which measures sampling variability—is +/- 3.1% for Canada and the United States, and 2.2 per cent for Great Britain. The results have been statistically weighted according to the most current education, age, gender and region Census data to ensure samples representative of the entire adult population of Canada, the US and Great Britain. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.

The term global warming refers to an increase of the Earth’s average temperature. Some theories say that climate change might be the result of human-generated carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. In 2007, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released a report which states that global warming has been "very likely"—or 90 per cent certain—caused by humans burning fossil fuels.

In 1998, several countries agreed to the Kyoto Protocol, a proposed amendment to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The agreement commits nations to reduce their emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.

The Copenhagen Climate Change Summit took place from Dec. 7 to Dec. 18, 2009. Countries attending the summit were supposed to draft a new agreement to replace the Kyoto Protocol, which is due to expire in 2012.

The final version of the Copenhagen Accord—which is not legally binding—includes pledges by signatories to hold the increase in global temperatures below two degrees Celsius, create a fund to help poor nations adapt to climate change that will grow to $100 billion U.S. annually by 2020, and aim to reduce worldwide emissions by 50 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020.

On Dec. 18, U.S. president Barack Obama discussed the importance of the deal, saying, "It is still going to require more work and more confidence-building and greater trust between emerging countries, the least developed countries, and the developed countries before I think you are going to see another legally binding treaty signed. I actually think that it’s necessary for us ultimately to get to such a treaty, and I am supportive of such efforts. But this is a classic example of a situation where if we just waited for that, then we would not make any progress."

Polling Data

Do you think the Copenhagen Accord will become a legally binding treaty in the future?

Source: Angus Reid Public Opinion
Methodology: Online interviews with 1,005 American adults, 1,013 Canadian adults, and 2,002 British adults, conducted from Dec. 22 and Dec. 23, 2009. Margins of error range from 2.2 per cent to 3.1 per cent.

Complete Poll – USA (PDF)

Complete Poll – BRI (PDF)

Complete Poll – CAN (PDF)

Few Americans applaud the performance of President Barack Obama at last month’s Climate Summit in Copenhagen, Denmark, but are happy with some of the promises made at the meeting, a new Angus Reid Public Opinion poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample of 1,005 American adults, only two-in-five respondents (40%) are satisfied with the American president’s actions at the December summit sponsored by the United Nations (UN) to discuss global warming. Thirty-five per cent of Americans express dissatisfaction with Obama’s performance at the meeting.

The Copenhagen Accord

Americans are not overly happy with the final accord from the global summit. Only a quarter of them (26%) are satisfied with the fact that countries did not sign a legally binding agreement. Forty-two per cent welcome a promise to hold the increase in global temperatures below two degrees Celsius, and 39 per cent agree with a pact to set up a fund to help poorer nations cope with climate change.

The only provision in the Copenhagen Accord that elicits a positive response from a majority of Americans (57%) is the commitment to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by half relative to 1990 levels by 2020.

Two-thirds of Americans (66%) express little or no confidence in countries being able to reach the goal of keeping rising temperatures below two degrees Celsius, and only 19 per cent think the Copenhagen Accord will become legally binding in the future.

Copenhagen and Climate Change: An Analysis

Respondents can be roughly divided into those who believe global warming is a fact and say it is caused by human activity (1); those who think global warming is a reality but is caused by natural changes (2), and those who think global warming is an unproven theory (3).

Most Americans falling in the first group (51%) are content with President Obama’s performance at the Copenhagen conference, but this is true for only 39 per cent and 21 per cent of respondents in the two following groups.

Those in the first group are more inclined to express frustration at the fact that the Copenhagen Accord is not legally binding (54% are dissatisfied with this) than those in the second (42%) and third groups (34%).

A similar proportion of respondents in the first two groups (49% and 43% respectively) are satisfied with signatories to the pact agreeing to hold increasing temperatures below the two-degree mark, while only 31 per cent of people in the third group agree.

Most respondents in the first group welcome the fund to help poor nations deal with global warming (52%), but less than 35 per cent of respondents in the other two groups agree. And a majority of Americans in the first and second categories (70% and 52%, respectively) agree with the commitment to lower global emission levels by half below 1990 levels by 2020, but only 38 per cent of those in the third group share this view.

Full Report, Detailed Tables and Methodology (PDF)

CONTACT:

Mario Canseco, Vice President, Public Affairs
+604 647 3570
mario.canseco@angus-reid.com

Over half of people in Britain are satisfied with the outcome of last month’s United Nations (UN) Climate Summit in Copenhagen, Denmark, a new Angus Reid Public Opinion poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample of 2,002 British adults, 50 per cent of respondents agree with the commitment to hold the rise in global temperatures below two degrees Celsius; 56 per cent welcome the idea to set up a fund to help developing nations adapt to the changes caused by global warming, and a large majority (72%) agrees with the promise to try to cut global greenhouse gas emissions by half below 1990 levels by 2020.

However, a large number of Britons (63%) were left dissatisfied with the fact that the Copenhagen Accord is not legally binding.

The Copenhagen Accord

Despite the high regard for the outcome of last month’s conference, Britons are not optimistic about the future. Over 40 per cent (43%) do not expect the Copenhagen agreement to become legally binding in the future, and 72 per cent think countries will not reach the goal of keeping temperatures from rising above two degrees Celsius.

Many Britons did not feel well represented at the conference. Only a third of respondents are satisfied with Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s performance in Copenhagen, while 45 per cent are dissatisfied with it.

Copenhagen and Climate Change: An Analysis

Respondents can be roughly divided into those who believe global warming is a fact and say it is caused by human activity (1); those who think global warming is a reality but is caused by natural changes (2), and those who think global warming is an unproven theory (3).

While those in the first group express a high degree of satisfaction with Prime Minster Brown’s performance at Copenhagen (42%), a majority of those in the second (50%) and third groups (59%) say they are dissatisfied with his actions.

Respondents in the first group are more dissatisfied with the fact that the Copenhagen Accord is not legally binding (72%) than those in the second (64%) and third (53%) groups. Most Britons in the first group (56%) are content with signatories agreeing to hold the increase in global temperatures below two degrees Celsius, but this is the case for fewer people in the second (49%) and third groups (42%).

Agreement with creating a fund to help poorer nations handle climate change is much higher amongst those in the first category (72%) than in the two following ones (47% and 41%, respectively). Support for aiming to curb global emissions by 2020 is also higher amongst those in the first group (83%), but is still very significant in the other two categories (over 62%).

Download Full Tables

Download Full Methodology Statement

Full Report, Detailed Tables and Methodology (PDF)

CONTACT:

Andy Morris, Research Director, London
+ 44-203-178-3952
andy.morris@angus-reid.com

Version française (PDF)

Canadians are generally unhappy with the results of last month’s Climate Change Summit in Copenhagen, Denmark, a new Angus Reid Public Opinion poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample of 1,013 Canadian adults, 28 per cent of respondents are content with the leadership shown by Prime Minister Stephen Harper at the summit to discuss climate change sponsored by the United Nations (UN). Conversely, almost half of Canadians (48%) express dissatisfaction with Harper’s performance at the meeting.

The Copenhagen Accord

Last month, representatives from 170 countries struggled to agree on a way to curb global warming. In the end, leaders issued a common statement including certain commitments to act. Most Canadians (56%) express frustration with the fact that the agreement that was finally reached is not legally binding.

A third of respondents (34%) are satisfied with the commitment to hold the increase of global temperatures below two degrees Celsius, but slightly more Canadians (36%) were left dissatisfied with this.

More respondents express satisfaction with the idea to create a fund to help developing nations adapt to climate change (46%), and with a commitment to reduce worldwide greenhouse gas emissions by 50 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020 (58%).

Over two-in-five Canadians (44%) don’t expect the Copenhagen Accord to ever become legally binding, and 73 per cent say are not confident that the world will reach the goal of holding the increase in global temperatures below two degrees Celsius.

Copenhagen and Climate Change: An Analysis

Canadians can be roughly divided into those who believe global warming is a fact and say it is caused by human activity (1); those who think global warming is a reality but is caused by natural changes (2), and those who think global warming is an unproven theory (3).

Those in the first group express a higher degree of dissatisfaction with their Prime Minister’s performance at Copenhagen (60%) than those in the second (38%) and third groups (30%).

Amongst respondents in the first group, 73 per cent are dissatisfied with the fact that the Copenhagen Accord is not legally binding, while this is true for fewer Canadians in the second (47%) and third groups (32%).Canadians in the first category are also more likely to express dissatisfaction with the commitment to hold warming temperatures below two degrees Celsius (44%) than those in the second (35%) and third groups (26%).

Respondents in the first group are the most enthusiastic about the creation of a fund to help developing nations cope with climate change (60% are satisfied with the idea); fewer people in the second (32%) and third groups (24%) agree with it.

Satisfaction with the commitment to lower global emission levels by half below 1990 levels by 2020 is high across the board, but highest amongst Canadians in the first group (66%, compared to 48% in the other groups).

Full Report, Detailed Tables and Methodology (PDF)

CONTACT:

Jodi Shanoff, Senior Vice President, Public Affairs
+416 712 5498
jodi.shanoff@angus-reid.com

Having a bill of rights is next on the list of important issues with 63 per cent, followed by gaining a seat on the United Nations (UN) Security Council with 59 per cent, having a treaty with indigenous Australians with 56 per cent, and having a referendum on Australia becoming a republic with 41 per cent.

The term global warming refers to an increase of the Earth’s average temperature. Some theories say that climate change might be the result of human-generated carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. In 2007, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released a report which states that global warming has been "very likely"—or 90 per cent certain—caused by humans burning fossil fuels.

In 1998, several countries agreed to the Kyoto Protocol, a proposed amendment to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The agreement commits nations to reduce their emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.

Australia held a federal election in November 2007. Final results gave the Australian Labor Party (ALP) 85 seats in the 150-member House of Representatives. ALP leader Kevin Rudd was officially sworn in as prime minister in December, bringing an end to the 11-year tenure of Liberal leader John Howard as head of Australia’s government.

Rudd signed the Kyoto Protocol immediately after being sworn in, delivering on one of his electoral promises. In March 2008, the Kyoto Protocol came into effect. In July, the Rudd government introduced its Green Paper, a proposal to curb carbon emissions.

In September 2008, after reviewing the Green Paper, the government said it will implement a "Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme." The proposal has not yet been approved by lawmakers, but is expected to take effect in July 2010.

On Dec. 21, Rudd commented on the lack of a binding agreement at the conclusion of the Copenhagen Climate Change Summit, saying, "It’s a huge sense of frustration, which is: You push as hard as you can, you give it everything you’ve got, to produce the biggest outcome for Australia possible. (…) But what’s equally the case is just how frustrated you get when you feel that people don’t see sense" in curbing greenhouse gas emissions.

Polling Data

How important are the following issues for Australia? ("Very Important" and "Somewhat Important" listed)

Source: Essential Research
Methodology: Online interviews with 1,113 Australian adults, conducted from Nov. 24 to Nov. 29, 2009. No margin of error was provided.