Appendix 11 - Yale Climate Survey
Yale Climate Opinion Survey, results for Washoe County (2023)
Yale researchers annually estimate public climate change opinion and public policy support in all 50 states, 435 United State Congressional districts, more than 3,000 counties, and cities across the nation. The model allows users to explore public opinion in unprecedented geographic detail. These data below are results for Washoe County. All data presented here are from the link above.
This first map shows that residents of Washoe County believe climate change is happening more than residents in any other Nevada county, and 4% higher than the national average.
Figure 20: Residents in Washoe County, shaded green with a pin drop for Reno, lead all Nevada counties in their belief that global warming is happening.
|
Question |
“Yes” / Positive / More” |
“No / Negative / Less” |
|
Beliefs |
|
|
|
Global warming is happening |
Yes |
No |
|
|
76% |
13% |
|
Global warming is caused mostly by human activities |
Human activities |
Natural changes |
|
|
60% |
27% |
|
Most scientists think global warming is happening |
Yes |
No |
|
|
59% |
25% |
|
Global warming is affecting the weather |
Agree |
Disagree |
|
|
64% |
8% |
|
Has personally experienced the effects of global warming |
Agree |
Disagree |
|
|
47% |
53% |
|
A Presidential candidate’s views on global warming are important to my vote |
One of several/ most important |
Not important |
|
|
60% |
31% |
|
Risk Perceptions |
|
|
|
Worried about global warming |
Worried |
Not Worried |
|
|
67% |
33% |
|
Global warming will harm plants and animals |
Great / moderate amount |
Little / not at all |
|
|
70% |
20% |
|
Global warming will harm future generations |
Great / moderate amount |
Little / not at all |
|
|
70% |
18% |
|
Global warming will harm people in developing countries |
Great / moderate amount |
Little / not at all |
|
|
68% |
20% |
|
Global warming will harm people in the US |
Great / moderate amount |
Little / not at all |
|
|
62% |
27% |
|
Global warming will harm me personally |
Great / moderate amount |
Little / not at all |
|
|
47% |
45% |
|
Global warming is already harming people in the US |
Now / within 10 years |
25+years / Never |
|
|
60% |
40% |
|
Question |
“Yes” / Positive / More” |
“No / Negative / Less” |
|
Policy Support |
|
|
|
Fund research into renewable energy sources |
Support |
Oppose |
|
|
82% |
18% |
|
Generate renewable energy on public land in the US |
Support |
Oppose |
|
|
81% |
19% |
|
Provide tax rebates for energy-efficient vehicles or solar panels |
Support |
Oppose |
|
|
75% |
25% |
|
Regulate CO2 as a pollutant |
Support |
Oppose |
|
|
75% |
25% |
|
Require fossil fuel companies to pay a carbon tax |
Support |
Oppose |
|
|
66% |
34% |
|
Drill for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge |
Support |
Oppose |
|
|
28% |
72% |
|
Expand offshore drilling for oil and natural gas off US coast |
Support |
Oppose |
|
|
50% |
50% |
|
Schools should teach about global warming |
Agree |
Disagree |
|
|
77% |
23% |
|
Question |
“Yes” / Positive / More” |
“No / Negative / Less” |
|
Who should act |
|
|
|
Global warming should be a priority for the next president and Congress |
Very high / high priority |
Low priority |
|
|
56% |
26% |
|
Developing clean energy should be a priority for president and Congress |
|
|
|
|
66% |
11% |
|
The President should do more to address global warming |
More |
Less |
|
|
54% |
28% |
|
Congress should do more to address global warming |
More |
Less |
|
|
63% |
25% |
|
My Governor should do more to address global warming |
More |
Less |
|
|
54% |
20% |
|
Local officials should do more to address global warming |
More |
Less |
|
|
56% |
19% |
|
Corporations should do more to address global warming |
More |
Less |
|
|
71% |
13% |
|
Citizens should do more to address global warming |
More |
Less |
|
|
63% |
13% |
|
Behaviors |
|
|
|
Discuss global warming at least occasionally |
More |
Less |
|
|
63% |
13% |
|
Hear about global warming in the media at least once a week |
At least weekly |
Once a month or less often |
|
|
35% |
65% |
Below, 76% of Washoe County residents belief climate change is happening, higher than residents in any other Nevada county.
Below, Washoe County residents' opinions about the risks of climate change.
Below, Washoe County residents' support for policies to address climate change.
Below, Washoe County residents' opinions about who has the responsibility to take action on climate.
Below, Washoe County residents' reported behaviors about hearing about or discussing climate change.
Back: Appendix 10 - Population Growth Next: County Operations Climate Action Plan
