Americans Increasingly Concerned About the Planet They're Leaving Behind for Future Generations
Over half of Americans don't think our society is sufficiently focused on the environment, though they are becoming less inclined to see environmental and economic goals as aligned
NEW YORK, N.Y. - April 16, 2014 - With Earth Day nearing once again, a new Harris Poll finds that 44% of Americans - up from 38% last year - say that the statement "I am concerned about the planet we are leaving behind for future generations" describes them completely or very well; an additional 26% say it describes them fairly well. In the meantime, a majority of Americans (56%) say the current focus on the environment in our society is not going far enough.
These are some of the results of The Harris Poll® of 2,244 adults surveyed online between March 11 and 16, 2015.
Changing attitudes towards climate change
While the overall belief that global climate change exists is all but unchanged since last year (with roughly three-fourths of Americans believing it exists), attitudes are shifting when it comes to causality: the percentage of Americans believing humans to be the main cause of global climate change has increased from 45% to 51% year over year, while the percentage who believe it exists but that its causes aren't related to humans dropped from 30% to 25%. It's worth noting, though, that over half (55%) of Americans feel the severity of the past winter calls global climate change into question.
Is it easy being green?
Many Americans are making an effort to be more environmentally conscious, with one third of U.S. adults (33%) agreeing that they're making more of an effort to do so than a year ago. However, Americans remain divided on whether it's easy (45%) or difficult (49%) to live a green or environmentally conscious lifestyle.
Organic attitudes
Americans show little consensus in how they feel towards organic products. On one hand, a 57% majority believes labeling food or other products as "organic" is just an excuse to charge more and an identical majority disagrees with the characterization of organic as tasting better or fresher than non-organic. On the other hand, a similar majority of 56% believes organic foods are healthier in comparison to non-organic, but otherwise similar, products.
Playing politics
The environment continues to be a point of widespread dissent at the political level, starting with the question of global climate change. One-fourth of Republicans (25%) don't believe it exists, compared to just 4% of Democrats and one-in-ten independents (10%). Republicans (36%) are also more likely than Democrats (17%) - with Independents (26%) falling between the two - to say that it exists but that its causes are mainly not related to humans, while Democrats (68%) and Independents (53%) are both far more likely than Republicans (28%) to say that it exists and humans are the main cause.
Democrats and Independents (41% and 40%, respectively) are also more likely than Republicans (30%) to see environmental and economic goals as often aligned, while Republicans (38%) are more likely to believe a choice needs to be made between the two (vs. 29% each Democrats and Independents).
As to the question of whether our society's current focus on the environment is going too far or not far enough, a strong majority of Democrats (73%) and a slim majority of Independents (54%) say "not far enough," with 35% of Republicans indicating the same. Four in ten Republicans (39%), one-fourth of Independents (24%) and fewer than one-in-ten Democrats (7%) say "too far."
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TABLE 1a
ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENTS & LABELS
Summary Table
"To what extent, if any, does each of the following statements describe you?"
Base: U.S. adults
| |
Very well/ Completely (NET)
|
Completely
|
Very well
|
Fairly well
|
Somewhat well/Not at all (NET)
|
Somewhat well
|
Does not describe me at all
|
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
|
I am concerned about the planet we are leaving behind for future generations.
|
44
|
19
|
25
|
26
|
30
|
20
|
10
|
|
I personally care a great deal about the current state, and future, of the environment.
|
38
|
16
|
22
|
30
|
31
|
23
|
9
|
|
I am environmentally-conscious.
|
33
|
11
|
23
|
30
|
36
|
26
|
10
|
|
I feel a personal responsibility for taking care of the environment.
|
30
|
11
|
19
|
30
|
40
|
26
|
13
|
|
I encourage others to be more environmentally-friendly.
|
30
|
11
|
19
|
27
|
43
|
23
|
19
|
|
I am a conservationist.
|
22
|
8
|
14
|
29
|
49
|
27
|
22
|
|
I am "green."
|
20
|
7
|
14
|
27
|
53
|
31
|
21
|
|
I am an environmentalist.
|
17
|
7
|
10
|
25
|
58
|
27
|
31
|
Note: Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding.
TABLE 1b
ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENTS & LABELS
Trend
"To what extent, if any, does each of the following statements describe you?"
Summary of those saying "Very well" or "Completely"
Base: U.S. adults
| |
2009 Total
|
2010 Total
|
2012 Total
|
2013 Total
|
2014 Total
|
2015 Total
|
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
|
I am concerned about the planet we are leaving behind for future generations.
|
43
|
36
|
34
|
37
|
38
|
44
|
|
I personally care a great deal about the current state, and future, of the environment.
|
36
|
34
|
31
|
38
|
36
|
38
|
|
I am environmentally-conscious.
|
30
|
29
|
27
|
31
|
31
|
33
|
|
I feel a personal responsibility for taking care of the environment.
|
29
|
29
|
27
|
30
|
28
|
30
|
|
I encourage others to be more environmentally-friendly.
|
26
|
25
|
24
|
28
|
27
|
30
|
|
I am a conservationist.
|
17
|
20
|
20
|
23
|
19
|
22
|
|
I am "green."
|
13
|
18
|
17
|
22
|
19
|
20
|
|
I am an environmentalist.
|
13
|
16
|
16
|
18
|
15
|
17
|
Note: Multiple responses.
TABLE 1c
ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENTS & LABELS
By Gender, Parental Status & Political Party
"To what extent, if any, does each of the following statements describe you?"
Summary of those saying "Very well" or "Completely"
Base: U.S. adults
| |
Total
|
Gender
|
Children under 18 in household
|
Political Party
|
|
Male
|
Female
|
Yes
|
No
|
Rep.
|
Dem.
|
Ind.
|
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
|
I am concerned about the planet we are leaving behind for future generations.
|
44
|
44
|
43
|
44
|
44
|
34
|
54
|
43
|
|
I personally care a great deal about the current state, and future, of the environment.
|
38
|
39
|
38
|
35
|
40
|
29
|
49
|
37
|
|
I am environmentally-conscious.
|
33
|
33
|
34
|
31
|
34
|
27
|
40
|
33
|
|
I feel a personal responsibility for taking care of the environment.
|
30
|
30
|
31
|
31
|
30
|
24
|
40
|
29
|
|
I encourage others to be more environmentally-friendly.
|
30
|
29
|
32
|
29
|
31
|
24
|
37
|
30
|
|
I am a conservationist.
|
22
|
22
|
21
|
17
|
23
|
18
|
24
|
22
|
|
I am "green."
|
20
|
20
|
21
|
19
|
21
|
14
|
23
|
23
|
|
I am an environmentalist.
|
17
|
16
|
18
|
16
|
18
|
10
|
22
|
19
|
Note: Multiple responses.
TABLE 2
EFFORT TO BE ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS
By Trend, Gender & Political Party
"Would you say that you are making more effort, less effort or about the same amount of effort to be environmentally conscious than you were a year ago?"
Base: U.S. adults
| |
2009 Total
|
2013 Total
|
2014 Total
|
2015 Total
|
Gender
|
Children under 18 in household
|
Political Party
|
|
Male
|
Female
|
Yes
|
No
|
Rep.
|
Dem.
|
Ind.
|
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
|
More effort
|
45
|
32
|
34
|
33
|
30
|
36
|
39
|
31
|
31
|
38
|
31
|
|
Same amount of effort
|
51
|
63
|
64
|
65
|
67
|
63
|
59
|
67
|
67
|
60
|
68
|
|
Less effort
|
3
|
5
|
2
|
2
|
3
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
1
|
Note: Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding.
TABLE 3
EASY OR DIFFICULT TO LIVE A GREEN LIFESTYLE
By Trend, Gender, Political Party
"How easy or difficult do you think it is to live a green or environmentally conscious lifestyle?"
Base: U.S. adults
| |
2013 Total
|
2014 Total
|
2015 Total
|
Gender
|
Children under 18 in Household
|
Political Party
|
|
Male
|
Female
|
Yes
|
No
|
Rep.
|
Dem.
|
Ind.
|
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
|
Easy (NET)
|
47
|
45
|
45
|
43
|
47
|
44
|
46
|
42
|
50
|
45
|
|
Very easy
|
10
|
10
|
35
|
33
|
36
|
34
|
35
|
34
|
37
|
34
|
|
Somewhat easy
|
36
|
35
|
11
|
10
|
11
|
10
|
11
|
8
|
13
|
11
|
|
Difficult (NET)
|
49
|
50
|
49
|
50
|
48
|
52
|
48
|
50
|
46
|
51
|
|
Somewhat difficult
|
39
|
41
|
9
|
10
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
7
|
9
|
|
Very difficult
|
9
|
9
|
40
|
40
|
41
|
44
|
39
|
40
|
40
|
42
|
|
Not at all sure
|
5
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
4
|
4
|
6
|
7
|
4
|
4
|
Note: Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding
TABLE 4a
AGREEMENT WITH "GREEN" STATEMENTS
Summary Table
"Please indicate how much you agree or disagree with the following statements."
Base: U.S. adults
| |
Agree (NET)
|
Strongly agree
|
Somewhat agree
|
Disagree (NET)
|
Somewhat disagree
|
Strongly disagree
|
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
|
I prefer to use environmentally friendly cleaning supplies because of the chemicals contained in traditional cleaning products.
|
58
|
15
|
43
|
42
|
27
|
15
|
|
I think labeling food or other products as "organic" is just an excuse to charge more.
|
57
|
17
|
40
|
43
|
27
|
16
|
|
I think organic foods are healthier in comparison to non-organic, but otherwise similar, products.
|
56
|
14
|
42
|
44
|
27
|
17
|
|
I worry about the freshness of my produce due to the distance it travels to my grocery store.
|
55
|
14
|
42
|
45
|
27
|
18
|
|
I think washing dishes by hand is more environmentally friendly than using the dishwasher.
|
48
|
16
|
32
|
52
|
32
|
19
|
|
I think organic food tastes better/fresher than non-organic.
|
43
|
11
|
32
|
57
|
33
|
24
|
|
I am concerned about the "carbon footprint" caused by transporting fresh produce to my grocery store.
|
40
|
8
|
32
|
60
|
35
|
24
|
|
I often don't buy organic food because I think it goes bad faster.
|
25
|
5
|
20
|
75
|
38
|
37
|
|
I feel guilty if I buy non-organic fruits and vegetables.
|
17
|
3
|
15
|
83
|
29
|
54
|
|
I judge people who only buy organic food.
|
15
|
4
|
11
|
85
|
21
|
64
|
|
I judge people who do not buy organic food.
|
9
|
2
|
7
|
91
|
18
|
73
|
Note: Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding.
TABLE 4b
AGREEMENT WITH "GREEN" STATEMENTS
By Gender, Region & Political Affiliation
"Please indicate how much you agree or disagree with the following statements."
Summary of those saying "Strongly agree" or "Somewhat agree"
Base: U.S. adults
| |
2013 Total
|
2015 Total
|
Generation
|
Political Affiliation
|
|
Millennials (18-37)
|
Gen X (38-49)
|
Baby Boomers (50-68)
|
Matures (69+)
|
Rep.
|
Dem.
|
Ind.
|
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
|
I prefer to use environmentally friendly cleaning supplies because of the chemicals contained in traditional cleaning products.
|
60
|
58
|
60
|
56
|
58
|
61
|
50
|
63
|
60
|
|
I think labeling food or other products as "organic" is just an excuse to charge more.
|
59
|
57
|
55
|
55
|
60
|
61
|
67
|
50
|
58
|
|
I think organic foods are healthier in comparison to non-organic, but otherwise similar, products.
|
55
|
56
|
68
|
53
|
52
|
42
|
49
|
58
|
59
|
|
I worry about the freshness of my produce due to the distance it travels to my grocery store.
|
56
|
55
|
60
|
52
|
55
|
51
|
50
|
59
|
56
|
|
I think washing dishes by hand is more environmentally friendly than using the dishwasher.
|
48
|
48
|
56
|
46
|
47
|
38
|
40
|
53
|
50
|
|
I think organic food tastes better/fresher than non-organic.
|
41
|
43
|
54
|
42
|
40
|
28
|
36
|
46
|
46
|
|
I am concerned about the "carbon footprint" caused by transporting fresh produce to my grocery store.
|
39
|
40
|
44
|
43
|
38
|
31
|
28
|
48
|
41
|
|
I often don't buy organic food because I think it goes bad faster.
|
23
|
25
|
29
|
20
|
24
|
26
|
28
|
22
|
24
|
|
I feel guilty if I buy non-organic fruits and vegetables.
|
18
|
17
|
26
|
17
|
13
|
6
|
12
|
20
|
17
|
|
I judge people who only buy organic food.
|
16
|
15
|
26
|
10
|
10
|
10
|
12
|
16
|
17
|
|
I judge people who do not buy organic food.
|
9
|
9
|
17
|
6
|
7
|
3
|
5
|
11
|
10
|
Note: Multiple responses.
TABLE 5
GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE CAUSED BY HUMANS OR NOT
"Which of these best describes your feelings towards global climate change?"
Base: All adults
| |
2014 Total
|
2015 Total
|
Generation
|
Gender
|
Political Party
|
|
Millennials (18-37)
|
Gen X (38-49)
|
Baby Boomers (50-68)
|
Matures (69+)
|
Men
|
Women
|
Rep.
|
Dem.
|
Ind.
|
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
|
I believe it exists and humans are the main cause
|
45
|
51
|
55
|
53
|
48
|
48
|
53
|
49
|
28
|
68
|
53
|
|
I believe it exists but that its causes are mainly not related to humans
|
30
|
25
|
25
|
22
|
25
|
32
|
25
|
26
|
36
|
17
|
26
|
|
I do not believe it exists
|
13
|
11
|
8
|
12
|
14
|
11
|
13
|
9
|
25
|
4
|
10
|
|
Unsure
|
12
|
13
|
13
|
13
|
13
|
9
|
9
|
16
|
12
|
11
|
12
|
Note: Percentages may not add up exactly to 100% due to rounding
TABLE 6
SEVERITY OF PAST WINTER CALLS GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE INTO QUESTION
By Gender & Political Party
"How strongly do you agree or disagree that the severity of this past winter calls global climate change into question?"
Base: U.S. adults
| |
Total
|
Gender
|
Political Party
|
|
Male
|
Female
|
Rep.
|
Dem.
|
Ind.
|
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
|
Agree (NET)
|
55
|
50
|
59
|
52
|
60
|
50
|
|
Strongly agree
|
17
|
19
|
15
|
15
|
22
|
16
|
|
Somewhat agree
|
38
|
31
|
44
|
37
|
39
|
34
|
|
Disagree (NET)
|
45
|
50
|
41
|
48
|
40
|
50
|
|
Somewhat disagree
|
22
|
22
|
22
|
27
|
15
|
25
|
|
Strongly disagree
|
23
|
28
|
19
|
21
|
25
|
25
|
Note: Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding
TABLE 7
SOCIETY'S CURRENT FOCUS ON THE ENVIRONMENT GOING TOO FAR OR NOT FAR ENOUGH
By Generation, Gender & Political Party
"Would you say that the current focus on the environment in our society is going too far or not far enough?"
Base: All adults
| |
Total
|
Generation
|
Gender
|
Political Party
|
|
Millennials (18-37)
|
Gen X (38-49)
|
Baby Boomers (50-68)
|
Matures (69+)
|
Men
|
Women
|
Rep.
|
Dem.
|
Ind.
|
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
|
Not far enough
|
56
|
67
|
52
|
53
|
44
|
55
|
57
|
35
|
73
|
54
|
|
Too far
|
21
|
15
|
23
|
22
|
29
|
26
|
17
|
39
|
7
|
24
|
|
Not at all sure
|
23
|
18
|
24
|
25
|
27
|
19
|
26
|
26
|
20
|
22
|
Note: Percentages may not add up exactly to 100% due to rounding
TABLE 8
SOCIETY'S CURRENT FOCUS ON THE ENVIRONMENT GOING TOO FAR OR NOT FAR ENOUGH
By Education, HH Income & Political Party
"Some people say that environmental goals and economic goals are in conflict and that we have to choose between them in the decisions we make. Other people say that environmental goals are often aligned, and that you do not have to choose between them. Which is closer to your opinion?"
Base: All adults
| |
2009 Total
|
2015 Total
|
Education
|
Annual HH Income
|
Political Party
|
|
HS or less
|
Some college
|
College grad
|
Post grad
|
<$35k
|
$35k-<$50k
|
$50k-<$75k
|
$75k-<$100k
|
$100k+
|
Rep.
|
Dem.
|
Ind.
|
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
%
|
|
Environmental and economic goals are often aligned
|
51
|
37
|
30
|
38
|
38
|
57
|
32
|
29
|
36
|
44
|
45
|
30
|
41
|
40
|
|
Have to choose between environmental and economic goals
|
31
|
31
|
30
|
30
|
37
|
23
|
30
|
34
|
32
|
29
|
28
|
38
|
29
|
29
|
|
Not at all sure
|
18
|
33
|
40
|
32
|
26
|
19
|
38
|
37
|
32
|
27
|
27
|
32
|
30
|
31
|
Note: Percentages may not add up exactly to 100% due to rounding
Methodology
This Harris Poll was conducted online within the United States between March 11 and 16, 2015 among 2,244 adults (aged 18 and over). Figures for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, region and household income were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. Propensity score weighting was also used to adjust for respondents' propensity to be online.
All sample surveys and polls, whether or not they use probability sampling, are subject to multiple sources of error which are most often not possible to quantify or estimate, including sampling error, coverage error, error associated with nonresponse, error associated with question wording and response options, and post-survey weighting and adjustments. Therefore, The Harris Poll avoids the words "margin of error" as they are misleading. All that can be calculated are different possible sampling errors with different probabilities for pure, unweighted, random samples with 100% response rates. These are only theoretical because no published polls come close to this ideal.
Respondents for this survey were selected from among those who have agreed to participate in Harris Poll surveys. The data have been weighted to reflect the composition of the adult population. Because the sample is based on those who agreed to participate in our panel, no estimates of theoretical sampling error can be calculated.
These statements conform to the principles of disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.
The results of this Harris Poll may not be used in advertising, marketing or promotion without the prior written permission of The Harris Poll.
Product and brand names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
The Harris Poll® #21, April 16, 2015
By Larry Shannon-Missal, Managing Editor, The Harris Poll
About The Harris Poll®
Begun in 1963, The Harris Poll is one of the longest running surveys measuring public opinion in the U.S. and is highly regarded throughout the world. The nationally representative polls, conducted primarily online, measure the knowledge, opinions, behaviors and motivations of the general public. New and trended polls on a wide variety of subjects including politics, the economy, healthcare, foreign affairs, science and technology, sports and entertainment, and lifestyles are published weekly. For more information, or to see other recent polls, visit the Harris Poll News Room.