New Hampshire voters overwhelmingly believe that the United States should be a world leader in addressing climate change by reducing our greenhouse gas emissions, according to the results of a recently conducted poll.

Conservation New Hampshire and Clean Air-Cool Planet commissioned the UNH Survey Center to conduct a poll of New Hampshire voters in order to gauge opinions surrounding the issue of climate change and federal climate legislation.  The survey of 500 individuals was conducted April 8 through April 18, 2010.

As the US Senate begins deliberations on a comprehensive climate and energy bill, both Judd Gregg and Jeanne Shaheen are seen as key consensus builders in their respective Senate caucuses.  Polling data suggest consensus among their constituents on climate has been reached:

• 78% of New Hampshire adults favor the United States taking action to reduce its carbon pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
• 95% of self-identified Democrats, 78% of self-identified Independents and 63% of self-identified Republicans favor the United States taking action to reduce its carbon pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

NH voters appear to welcome progress even at some cost:

• Three quarters of New Hampshire adults “understand that reducing global warming will take sacrifices from all of us, and that they are ready to make some changes.”
• 67% are willing to have their monthly electric bill increased to reduce carbon emissions.
• 69% agree that “solving global warming now will cost less money than if we wait until later.”

This issue will continue to be debated during the 2010 election, both nationally and in NH. Given this debate candidates should note:

• 47% of NH adults would have a less favorable opinion of their member of Congress if they voted AGAINST a plan to require factories and power plants to reduce their global warming pollution by 70% by the year 2050.

New Hampshire voters want to see an energy policy that increases our energy independence, reduces our reliance on hostile nations for fossil fuels, and creates new jobs and industries here at home.

It is important to note that since the poll was conducted, there have been several changes to the national lay of the land in regards to climate and energy policy.

Soon after the survey was completed, a massive oil spill occurred in the Gulf of Mexico.  The spill and its effect on the environment and regional economy will undoubtedly have an impact on how voters view energy and climate issues over the short and long term.

In addition to the oil spill, late April saw the unveiling of the Kerry/ Lieberman American Power Act, federal legislation that would create a cap and trade system to limit, and put a price, on greenhouse gas emissions.  While the announcement of the American Power Act has not received the same media attention and public scrutiny that the oil spill has, its announcement does mark a significant development in the emerging policy debate.  The attention these two events receive in the weeks and months ahead will alter the public’s perception on climate issues.

Conservation New Hampshire is planning to track responses to several of these questions in future UNH surveys to gauge voters attitudes over time.

Click here to view the survey results.