Poll Finds Ohioans Ready to Take On Climate Change
Get the Flash Player to see this player.
November 10, 2009
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohioans feel that climate change is a serious problem that needs to be addressed, according to a new survey of voters. The poll, released Monday by the Pew Environment Group, found that 60 percent of polled voters think global warming poses a severe threat and 70 percent support action to reduce carbon emissions that cause it. The director of Pew's U.S. Global Warming Campaign, Phyllis Cuttino, says a large majority also believes efforts to reduce global warming would result in new American jobs.
"Ohio voters think that it's a serious problem, that we need to address that problem, and that it's going to have a benefit when it comes to creating jobs; that's something that's quite important obviously for Ohio, where we've actually been losing jobs."
Cuttino says she's not surprised by the results of the survey, since Ohio is already making great strides to move towards alternative forms of energy.
"While Ohio has been losing jobs over the past decade, when it comes to the economy at large - really when you look at the clean energy economy - Ohio has been growing their clean energy jobs."
The study also found that 63 percent favor a two-part plan like the House-passed clean energy jobs and global warming bill, which would reduce emissions and require the use of clean energy sources. Critics of the legislation have said it defeats the purpose of cutting emissions by deferring to a later date the time when carbon polluters would have to lower their emissions.
The survey was conducted from August 17 to August 19 with 600 likely 2010 general election voters. More information can be found at www.pewglobalwarming.org