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CNU Center for Public Policy and the Virginian Environmental Endowment Release Results of Virginia Survey on Climate Change

 

News Release - April 22, 2009

Media Contact:
Dr. Quentin Kidd, Director – CNU Center for Public Policy
qkidd@cnu.edu
Office: (757) 594-8499
Mobile : (757) 320-3980

( HAMPTON ROADS, VA) – Christopher Newport University's Center for Public Policy and the Virginia Environmental Endowment released today the results of a statewide survey on the public's perceptions of the natural environment in Virginia. This is the first of three studies on the environment scheduled for release on Earth Day in 2009, 2010 and 2011. The goal of these studies is to provide an assessment of public opinion on the natural environment and in turn contribute to public dialogue on the topic.

The survey released today asks respondents for a general assessment of the state's natural environment and uses a novel question format - the letter grade - as an assessment tool. Respondents are also asked to look into the future and assess in what state they think the natural environment will be in 10 years. Respondents are then asked about their personal views on the issue of climate change and to describe ways in which their own behavior has changed as a result of concerns about the environment. Finally, respondents are asked about specific environmental issues facing Virginia and about their support for specific policy options.

The survey shows several important things about the public's perception of the natural environment in Virginia. First, Virginians are largely pessimistic about the state's natural environment, giving it only an average grade overall. Second, Virginians have made changes to their own living and shopping habits in an effort to help better protect the environment. Third, Virginians are more concerned about the natural environment and the natural beauty of Virginia than about their own health. Finally, Virginians respond positively to many, but not all, policy proposals designed to change their behavior in ways that would be beneficial to the state's environment.

Other findings include:

•  52.9% of Virginians grade the natural environment in Virginian as either “C”, “D”, or “F.” The average grade is “C.” Two-thirds of Virginians think the environment will stay about the same or get worse over the next 10 years.

•  76.1% of Virginians think global warming is happening, and 29.6% of them have made major changes to their living and shopping habits to help protect the environment. 59.8% have made minor changes to their living and shopping habits.

•  The most severe environmental problems facing Virginia are the health of the Chesapeake Bay and the mountaintop removal of coal method of mining, according to respondents. The least severe problems are air pollution and pollution of drinking water.

•  Nearly eight in 10 Virginians think it would be worth paying more for a new car or new home if new cars used less gas and new homes used less energy to heat and cool, but only half support cutting funding for new highway construction to increase funding for rail, transit and other alternatives to driving. A tax credit of up to $500 would encourage about seven in 10 Virginians to make existing homes and buildings more energy efficient, but would only encourage about half of Virginians to purchase a hybrid car.

•  Support for a “cap and trade” system hovers around 50% unless the money raised by the system goes back to individual people, in which case support goes up to 60%.

The full report, survey toplines and survey cross-tabs can be found at http://cpp.cnu.edu/