Staff Report –

WASHINGTON, D.C. — While the future of any proposed Green New Deal in Congress may be somewhat politically controversial, a significant majority of Americans, 60 percent, support dramatically reducing the nation’s use of fossil fuels over the next two decades as a way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and address the growing environmental and economic disaster posed by climate change.

A unique view of the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., July 7, 2018: Glynn Wilson

Six in adults surveyed in the United States said they “favor” (33%) or “strongly favor” (27%) reducing the nation’s use of fossil fuels, while only 37 percent say they “oppose” (19%) or “strongly oppose” (17%) moving away from fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas for energy, according to a recent Gallup poll.

Support for rapidly slashing the country’s use of fossil fuels such as oil, gas and coal is significantly higher among Democrats and independents than among Republicans , according to Gallup, which reports that 80 percent of Democrats and 60 percent of independents favor moving away from fossil fuels, while 37 percent of Republicans continue to support the oil, gas and coal industries even in the face of overwhelming evidence that the planet is warming and severe climate change is already having an impact on life on earth, including dire economic impacts.

Human-Induced Global Warming Impacts Are Already Being Felt by Life on Earth

These tend to be the same respondents who get their news from Fox News and talk radio are are loyal to President Trump and his Republican Party.

Asked about the “likelihood” of dramatically reducing fossil fuel usage in the next 10 to 20 years, 60 percent of Americans say it is “very likely” (22%) or “likely” (38%) to happen, roughly matching the numbers of people favoring the goal of reducing our dependence on fossil fuels in exchange for solar power, wind and other alternative, clearer energy sources.

The vast majority of Americans, 80 percent, want to see more emphasis placed on the production of green energy sources — specifically solar power, while 70 percent favor more wind power.

Only 28 percent of Americans say they want more emphasis on oil, and only 22 percent are in favor of mining for more coal.

Fifty percent want less use of coal, 43 percent want less oil production, and 35 want to see less use of nuclear power.

Only are most likely to want less emphasis on coal (50%), followed by oil (43%) and nuclear power (35%).

Support for more oil, natural gas and coal has been falling since 2013, while support for greater emphasis on solar and wind energy has been stable and growing.

Almost two-thirds of Americans wanted greater emphasis on natural gas production in 2013, when there was support for power plants converting from coal to gas, but that support has dropped by 19 percentage points since. Support for greater oil and coal production has fallen by a similar amount.

Some 41 percent say energy and environmental laws to tackle global warming may hurt the economy, but 37 percent say it a transition could help by creating more high paying, green jobs.

Conclusion

While perceptions that a reduction in fossil fuel is feasible could help drive the ambition of Green New Deal backers who want Congress to address the climate change issue head on, even some industry leaders in solar and wind energy, who stand to gain the most from legislation, say a full shift to renewable energy is still years away.

“But given that most Americans are open to legislation that has a goal of reducing global warming, the bill’s sponsors have reason to continue to search for a solution that’s more politically viable,” according to Gallup’s analysis.

The full U.S. Senate, still led by a majority of Republicans, is unlikely to pass the Green New Deal in an upcoming vote on the legislation passed in the House.