Poll numbers confirm the GOP remains the party of climate skeptics

OPINION:

Over 150 heads of state have gathered in Paris before an exceptionally friendly news media to discuss the challenges of climate change. President Obama and Al Gore are among the throng, and alarmism is in the air.

But not among Republicans, who remain unconvinced about global warming, and the role humanity plays in it all.

Numbers from a new Economist/YouGov poll released Friday confirm that the GOP is the party of climate doubters.

Sixty percent of Americans say the world’s climate is changing because of human activity; 35 percent of Republicans and 82 percent of Democrats agree. Another 22 percent overall say the world’s climate is not changing because of humans; 40 percent of Republicans and 8 percent of Democrats agree. And finally, 7 percent of Americans overall say the global climate is not changing; 16 percent of the GOPers and 2 percent of the Dems agree.

The climate is not a pivotal issue for Republicans in 2016.

“For most Republicans a candidate’s position on climate change won’t be important to their vote.  Only one in five want a candidate who will take action on climate change.  Two-thirds of Democrats do,” writes poll analyst Kathy Frankovic.

Other research supports the partisan divide on climate change.

“Opinions on the issue remain highly politicized. Eight in 10 Democrats call climate change a serious problem, as do 62 percent of independents; this drops to 43 percent among Republicans. Fifty-seven percent of Democrats think most scientists agree on the issue, while two-thirds of Republicans feel the opposite,” states an ABC News poll released Monday.

“Just 22 percent of Republicans favor additional government action on the issue, compared with 47 percent of independents and two-thirds of Democrats. Still, even among Republicans, just a third say the government should be doing less than it is now to try to address the issue.”