what we do :: Market Research
Climate Change and Energy: Tracking Public Opinions and Responses
Climate change mitigation has grown into an important national policy issue. The majority of human greenhouse gas emissions result from our use of carbon-based fuels. In North America, the main sources of greenhouse gas emissions are linked to energy use in buildings (residential & commercial), manufacturing, and transportation. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions will require extensive changes in our energy infrastructure, as well as the way people and organizations use energy.Importance of Public Attitudes
Public attitudes toward climate change can propel or retard policy measures and voluntary programs designed to decrease American and global contributions to climate change. Although public opinion surveys have been tracking various attitudes about climate change for a number of years, few surveys have addressed the energy connection in sufficient depth to be used for program and policy development.
Tracking Public Attitudes
Check back soon for 2009 results.
In 2007, the Energy Center of Wisconsin embarked on a sponsor-funded tracking study to assess the state of public attitudes about climate change and energy efficiency.
The study comprised surveys of 3,284 households in nine Midwestern states. Thanks to the support of project sponsors, we are able to make high level results public in three communiqués listed below.
- Climate Change and Energy—Public Opinion and the Capacity for Action (PDF)
- Climate Change and Energy—Public Opinion and Policy Preferences (PDF)
- Climate Change and Energy—The Utility-Customer Connection (PDF)
In 2008, we expanded the project's reach to all 50 states with a repeat of the survey among a national sample. We presented some key results at the 2008 Behavior, Energy & Climate Change Conference.
Implications for Public Education & Messaging
Public attitudes about climate change have implications for advocates of energy efficiency and climate-friendly actions. The Energy Center examined what current attitudes about climate change mean for the use of climate messages to motivate energy efficiency and for public education on the broader topic of climate change. See our findings in this peer-reviewed conference paper:
Project Sponsors
Project sponsors for 2007/8 were: Integrys Energy Group; Wisconsin Energy Conservation Corporation; Wisconsin Power and Light Company, an Alliant Energy company; Wisconsin Public Power Inc.; and Xcel Energy.
We are currently recruiting sponsors for 2008/9. Benefits of sponsorship include oversamples of your target group of geography of interest, as well as a detailed report of results and implications.
Contact Ingo Bensch for more information.