Eighty percent of Californians approve of increasing federal funding to develop renewable energy, according to a statewide survey released by the Public Policy Institute of California.
In a year that has seen both lingering economic distress and extreme weather across the nation, most Californians continue to support the state's climate change policy, according to the survey. Residents believe global warming is a serious threat to the state's future economy, with 47% seeing it as a very serious threat and 28% saying it is somewhat serious.
Seventy-seven percent of residents support California policy that requires one-third of the state's electricity come from renewable energy sources by 2020. When asked about the policy resulting in higher electricity bills, 46% of adults said they favor it.
The principle behind A.B.32 – the California law requiring the state to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 – enjoys majority support (67% favor, 21% oppose, 11% don't know). Most (57%) believe that the state government should make its own policies – separate from the federal government – to address global warming, according to the survey.
Most adults (58%) say California should act now to reduce GHG emissions, while 38% say they prefer to wait until the economy and job situation improve.
