The Social Bases of Climate Change Knowledge, Concern, and Policy Support in the U.S. General Public

Abstract

This Article analyzes the social bases of climate change knowledge, concern, and policy support, with an emphasis on examining the role of political identification (political ideology and party affiliation). Using survey data from eight nationally representative samples from 20012008, this study tests the generalizability of earlier results in this literature. Several findings from past research receive support, though a few—primarily those dealing with demographic characteristics—are challenged here. Of particular interest, political liberals and Democrats express more scientifically accurate beliefs and greater concern about climate change than do political conservatives and Republicans. Also, greater self-reported understanding translates into increased knowledge and concern for liberals and Democrats and decreased knowledge and concern for conservatives and Republicans. Political ideology and party affiliation have both direct and indirect effects on climate policy support, with liberals and Democrats expressing greater support for several climate policy proposals than conservatives and Republicans. This Article ends with a brief discussion of the implications of these trends in climate change public opinion for implementing effective climate policy.