Latest news with #YaleSchooloftheEnvironment
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Support for renewables shrinks as fossil fuel interest grows
Republicans and Democrats alike are less likely to support renewable energy than they were five years ago, according to a survey released Thursday by the Pew Research Center. The results mirror growing pockets of opposition to solar farms, reignited political support for coal plants and moves by President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans to kill federally funded clean energy projects. This shift in opinion dates back to before Democratic President Joe Biden took office, said Brian Kennedy, Pew senior researcher and one of the study's authors. 'This isn't a new trend,' he said. Still, Kenneth Gillingham, professor of environmental and energy economics at the Yale School of the Environment, was surprised. 'I see this shift … a successful effort to link climate change and renewable energy to broader culture war issues,' Gillingham said. He added that in the past, 'prominent' Republicans supported renewables and sought solutions to climate change, but those stances could now be seen as 'disloyal' to Trump. The survey of 5,085 U.S. adults taken April 28 to May 4 revealed that while 79% of Americans favored expanding wind and solar production in 2020, that number has dropped to 60%. And 39% of Americans today support expansion of oil, coal and natural gas — almost double the 20% that supported it in 2020. Combustion of fossil fuels — in transportation, energy generation and industrial production — is the No. 1 cause of climate change. Much of the change in opinion is driven by Republicans, whose support of oil and gas grew from 35% in 2020 to 67% today. But Democrats also indicated less support for renewable energy and more for fossil fuels than five years ago. While many results reflect Trump's policies opposing most renewables and boosting fossil fuels, Pew found a few notable exceptions: 69% of all respondents favor offshore wind — a technology Trump has specifically targeted. Both Democrats and Republicans indicated stronger support for nuclear power, with Republicans' favorable opinions increasing from 53% in 2020 to 69% in 2025. Democrats' support rose from 37% to 52%. The Trump administration has signaled support for a nuclear renaissance, despite its high cost. There were wide partisan splits on several topics. In March, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced it would scale back environmental regulations. Pew asked whether it was possible to do that and still protect air and water quality: 77% of Republicans said yes and 67% of Democrats said no. Pew didn't ask the respondents why their attitudes have shifted. But Kennedy said in Pew's past surveys, Republicans have expressed concern about the economic impacts of climate change policies and transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. Mike Murphy, a Republican consultant and electric vehicle backer, said when the environmental benefits of clean technologies are touted, it polarizes Republicans. Instead, Murphy said messages should be about pocketbook issues — like lower fuel costs — and jobs. 'It's hard for pro-climate people to understand,' said Murphy, who has advised dozens of state and national GOP campaigns including John McCain's 2008 presidential bid. '(They think) we just need to shout louder and hit people over the head about climate, climate, climate. The key is you want to talk about jobs and national security and other events that naturally resonate a lot more with right-of-center people.' That's what Murphy's groups, the EV Politics Project and the American EV Jobs Alliance are trying to do to depoliticize electric vehicles. 'Whenever electric cars are seen through a climate lens,' Murphy said, 'their appeal narrows.' It's a strategy also being used by the Electrification Coalition, a left-of-center pro-EV group. Ben Prochazka, the coalition's executive director, echoed Murphy's strategy, adding that EVs have 'become overly politicized and caught in the culture wars, impacting markets and ultimately hurting our ability to realize their many benefits for all Americans.' Prochazka noted that once introduced to EVs, consumers support them: "EV drivers love their vehicles, with more than eight out of ten reporting that their next car will also be electric.' Perhaps those practical messages are getting through. In the Pew survey, electric vehicles were the one item that saw an uptick in support – 4 percentage points in the past year. But popular support might not be enough to stop Congress from killing a $7,500 electric vehicle credit, which Murphy said would be 'policy disaster.' Republicans, he said, are in a 'real squeeze,' because 'they don't have enough money for the tax cuts the president has promised.' Said Murphy: 'It's easier for Republicans to cut Biden electric cars … than it is for them to cut more Medicaid.' Gillingham is still optimistic that solar, wind and other greenhouse gas-reducing technologies will move forward — because they are the cheapest. 'The continued decline in the price of renewable energy and battery technologies, as well as other new technologies, is a reason to continue to have hope that the worst impacts of climate change can be addressed,' he said. Floodlight is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates the powers stalling climate action.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Why don't people evacuate disasters? New study raises surprising explanations
Hurricane forecasts are better today than ever before. Conditions ripe for flooding can be predicted days in advance. Our smart devices are capable of alerting us the moment a severe weather warning is issued. Despite all these lifesaving technological achievements, getting folks to evacuate ahead of a natural disaster remains a challenge. Why don't some residents leave when they're asked to do so? One recent study took a deep dive into why people stay instead of fleeing—and some of the answers are surprising. DON'T MISS: The message before hurricanes, floods, and wildfires is often the same: Leave. Getting out of harm's way seems like common sense. But fleeing your home ahead of an impending disaster is a complicated decision fraught with potential downsides. Even a short-term evacuation can be costly. Expenses such as travel, lodging, and food alone could run the average family thousands of dollars. That's not to mention the potential for lost wages, or even losing one's job. Not everyone can evacuate in a timely manner. Low-income individuals, those who don't drive, and folks living with disabilities often lack the resources to evacuate at all when floods, fires, or hurricanes threaten their communities. But what about people who are fully able to evacuate, yet choose not to? A new study published by the Yale School of the Environment shines a light on some of the factors that may play into a decision not to evacuate before a natural disaster. Researchers explored three case studies from around the world: Farmers on the slopes of an infamously volatile Indonesian volcano Americans on the Gulf Coast who throw 'hurricane parties' Japanese residents' decision-making during floods and mudslides The surprising results show that there are often rational thought processes behind the decision not to flee potential disaster—ones that go far beyond the typical attribution to hubris or recklessness. Indonesia's Mount Merapi is one of the world's most dangerous and active volcanoes. An eruption in October 2010 ultimately led to more than 300 fatalities throughout the region. Despite the ever-present danger, many villagers still reside and farm on the volcano's slopes. 'They dwell beyond the point where lowland society fears to tread, but below the point where they themselves fear volcanic hazard,' the study notes. Residents see the benefits of living here as outweighing the risk of a hazardous eruption. Volcanic eruptions here often carry deep spiritual and cultural meaning, potentially leading to the erosion or challenge of political support for leaders in charge at the time of the disaster. These villagers remain put—and often resist government insistence to relocate elsewhere—not just because the ground there is fertile, but also that their presence in a high-danger zone applies political pressure to local governments to pay attention to their needs, which may otherwise be ignored without the publicity of the volcano's activity. Hurricane evacuations represent some of modern history's largest relocation efforts outside of war zones. Hundreds of thousands of people might live in evacuation zones ahead of a major storm—especially along the U.S. Gulf Coast. RELATED: Not everybody who can leave chooses to do so. Some folks stay behind, and a few may even throw a hurricane party. 'During these gatherings,' the authors of the study wrote, 'people come together to eat food before it spoils, cherish moments before seeking shelter, and build community before the storm arrives.' Throwing a hurricane party in lieu of fleeing a storm's fierce winds and surge can seem like pure recklessness. However, the study contends—citing decades of research into this very topic—that there are complex sociological factors behind a decision to celebrate rather than evacuate. These events are often seen as a community-building opportunity. Quoting a sociologist who interviewed survivors of Hurricane Harvey's flooding, the authors shed some light on the decision-making process. Folks who threw and attended parties during Harvey 'knew what to expect, what to do, and that they could hope for the best, but their homes were likely going to flood. They also knew [they] would help each other rebuild, yet again.' The researchers also analyzed a series of deadly floods and mudslides that struck Japan in July 2018, during which a significant number of people in danger zones didn't evacuate despite adequate warnings from local officials. The team's findings highlight the complicated nature of how people perceive danger, a sense of urgency, and where their priorities may lie. Many people lost their lives in the 2011 tsunami because they were helping vulnerable people evacuate instead of fleeing themselves. This sense of community extends to other disasters, as well. They also found that the manner in which people received information may dictate their next moves. Rather than heeding initial warnings, many folks at risk during a natural calamity may wait for 'phone calls from family members or visual changes in the landscape' to act instead, the researchers noted. Header image created using graphics and imagery from Canva. Click here to view the video
Miami Herald
20-05-2025
- Climate
- Miami Herald
‘You are not alone': Most Nevadans worry about climate change, poll shows
LAS VEGAS – In the state with the nation's two fastest-warming cities, most residents believe in climate change and think officials should do something about it, new polling has found. Answers from Nevadans rank similarly to national averages, with more widespread belief in climate change in Clark and Washoe counties, where almost 87% of the state's population resides. For instance, in the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication's poll, 63% of Nevadans said they are worried about climate change - identical to the national average. That number was 1% higher in Clark County and 6% higher in Washoe County. "If you're worried about it, you are not alone," said Jennifer Marlon, senior research scientist and director of data science at the Yale School of the Environment. "The vast majority of people are worried about it, and it's many more people than you think. We're not talking about it, because everyone thinks they're going to end up picking a fight. But, by and large, that's not true." The idea of a warming climate - and the burning of fossil fuels as the main cause - is supported by more than 99% of peer-reviewed research. It was a science nonprofit's 2025 Earth Day analysis of temperatures that designated Las Vegas and Reno as the two fastest-warming cities in the United States for the third year in a row, when comparing annual average temperatures since 1970. Yale researchers based their poll numbers on surveys of more than 32,000 people from every state and 2,379 of the country's 3,144 counties. To map the whole country by county, they used a statistical model that considers location and sociodemographic factors like political affiliations, race, gender and age. Following are the highlights: Extreme heat potent example Scientists and officials have said Nevada is ground zero for human-caused climate change, perhaps most evident in the summer when temperatures regularly stay in the triple digits, even at night. Sixty-eight percent of Nevadans agree that climate change is affecting the weather, which is 3% more than the country at large. In Clark County, extreme heat's death toll last year was 527 - higher than it's ever been because of a record hot summer and the adapting standards of the county coroner's office. Tom Albright, Nevada's deputy state climatologist and a professor at the University of Nevada, Reno, is planning Northern Nevada's first extreme heat summit that will take place next month. In the absence of a coordinated response to extreme heat in the region, Albright said he hopes it can inform people and help them brainstorm ideas for local leaders. Helping find solutions for the one-third of Nevadans who aren't worried about climate change is a priority, too. Albright said using the words "climate change" or "global warming" can turn some people off because of politics - reflected in the polling results from some rural, deep red counties, where only half of the residents are concerned about it. "It doesn't matter if you call it 'global warming,' 'climate change,' 'drought' or 'extreme heat': These are issues that people experience," Albright said in an interview Thursday. "People don't talk about climate change that much, and they don't hear about it in the news as much as you might expect. They tend to underestimate the concern or interest of their neighbors." Next generation The strongest positive response the Silver State had to a question was whether schools should teach about climate change. More than three in four Nevadans feel it should be, and a similar amount of them agree that climate change will harm future generations. Dr. Debra Hendrickson, a board-certified pediatrician in Reno, is the author of "The Air They Breathe." The book is geared toward the challenges children and their parents will experience in the face of climate change, especially as it relates to air quality. Wildfire is a particular challenge in Washoe County, where smoke can come from the region's fires, as well as nearby ones from California. This year, the American Lung Association gave Clark and Washoe counties an F for particle pollution and days with high ozone levels. Whether it's extreme heat, allergies or wildfire smoke, Nevadans' health is directly tied to climate change that has made these issues more prominent, Hendrickson said. "These events that seem big and global are tied to why your kid is coughing and wheezing during a wildfire event," the pediatrician said in an interview Friday. "That's the message that people need to understand: Everybody in the state of Nevada has been affected by climate change. There's no one in the state who's been untouched by this." What Nevadans can do A broader section of the polling results focuses on policy solutions, with more than half in agreement that Congress, Gov. Joe Lombardo, local officials, corporations and private citizens should do more to address climate change. The country's transition to cleaner energy sources still remains highly popular, according to the poll. For those interested in doing something about their concerns on climate change, Hendrickson recommends taking an inventory of what in Nevadans' own lives may be contributing to greenhouse gas emissions, from the food they eat to the way they travel. Learning about local issues and solutions can be inspiring, she said, especially when residents can attend meetings for public utility commissions and city or county government. The best solution to inaction is getting educated without feeling responsible for solving the problem of climate change on a large scale, Hendrickson said. "If you can give people concrete steps that they can take, I think that really activates people," Hendrickson said. "There is such a sense of helplessness because it is such a huge problem." ___ Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
Axios
30-04-2025
- Climate
- Axios
Louisiana's climate anxiety, mapped
New Orleanians are stressed about climate change, recent estimates find. Why it matters: The rest of Louisiana isn't as anxious. The big picture: 74.1% of adults in New Orleans say they are "somewhat" or "very" worried about climate change, per estimates from the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication based on survey data. In Jefferson Parish, it's 64.3% of adults. The national average is 63.3%, with higher anxiety levels in coastal communities and large cities. The findings paint a stark picture of how attitudes toward climate change vary nationwide. Zoom in: About 53% of adults in Louisiana's coastal parishes, which face the brunt of hurricanes and coastal erosion, report feeling anxious about climate change. Cameron Parish had the lowest rate of concern (44.4%), with Jefferson Parish having the highest. Catch up quick: South Louisiana has endured one extreme weather event after another in recent years. Residents have dealt with saltwater intrusion, extreme drought, super fog, flooding, tornadoes and marsh fires. Hurricane Francine made landfall here last year, and the region was battered by Hurricane Ida in 2021. The historic snowfall was magical, but it was a nightmare for the region's infrastructure. What they're saying: While the map above may look like a sea of purple, "it's crucial to remind people that the vast majority of the population exists in some of these green places," says Jennifer Marlon, executive director of the Yale Center for Geospatial Solutions and senior research scientist at the Yale School of the Environment. Zoom out: A Gallup survey this month showed an uptick in the number of Southerners who have experienced an extreme weather event where they live, writes Axios' Andrew Freedman. 28% of respondents said they experienced a hurricane in the past two years, up from 18% in 2023, the survey showed. Climate change is projected to lead to more frequent occurrences of severe hurricanes (though not more frequent hurricanes overall) and is already showing a tie to increased instances of rapid intensification of storms. Climate change is also causing these massive storms to deliver more rainfall than they used to, leading to inland flooding disasters. How it works: The findings are based on statistical modeling using data from nationally representative Ipsos surveys. Between the lines: Individual attitudes about climate change are not based entirely (or perhaps even primarily) on local risk, with politics, education, and other factors playing big roles.
Axios
21-04-2025
- Climate
- Axios
Indiana's climate change anxiety
When it comes to climate change, a new study reveals that many Hoosiers outside of Indy aren't sweating it. The big picture: Climate anxiety is concentrated in many large U.S. metros and some coastal regions. About 63.3% of U.S. adults overall are "somewhat" or "very" worried about global warming as of 2024, per survey data from Yale Program on Climate Change Communication. The findings paint a stark picture of how attitudes toward climate change vary by location. Zoom in: Marion County residents are slightly more concerned about climate change than the national average, with a state-leading 66% of residents saying they are "somewhat" or "very" worried. Monroe is the only other Indiana county concerned about climate change at a rate higher than the national average at 65%. Residents in Boone (56%) and Hamilton (54%) counties are slightly less concerned. In 59 of Indiana's 92 counties, fewer than 50% of residents say they're worried about climate change. Zoom out: Some of the U.S. counties with especially high shares of adults worried about global warming — like Queens, New York (79.8%) — are coastal areas vulnerable to climate-driven threats like flooding. They also tend to be relatively populous, with 4 of the 10 most-worried counties having at least 1 million residents. Many major metro areas, like Columbus, Ohio, and Salt Lake City, Utah, also show up on the map above as pockets of relatively higher climate concern compared to surrounding areas. What they're saying: While the map above may look like a sea of purple, "it's crucial to remind people that the vast majority of the population exists in some of these green places," says Jennifer Marlon, executive director of the Yale Center for Geospatial Solutions and senior research scientist at the Yale School of the Environment. Between the lines: Individual attitudes about climate change are not based entirely (or perhaps even primarily) on local risk, with politics, education, and other factors playing big roles. Threat level: In Indiana, studies show that human-driven climate change is making rainstorms in Indianapolis more intense.
