Global Warming: Knowledge and Attitudes in Skagit County, WashingtonKEY FINDINGS2015

Survey Partners and PurposeSurvey MethodGlobal Warming / Climate ChangeKey Findings:SummaryReport Structure

Skagit Climate Science Consortium (SC2)Yale Program for Climate Change CommunicationsSurvey Partners

Survey PurposeSC2: Work with a well-renowned public polling entity to understand Skagit County specifics related to:Overall perception of global warmingOverall perceptions of riskBetter targeting of SC2 information and effortsYale: County validation for national model http://environment.yale.edu/poe/v2014/Note: Yale has not updated the national model based on Skagit County information yet – planned update in 2016

Sample SurveyedCounty-wide survey of Skagit County residents 1,000 random digit dial telephone interviewsConducted in May 2015Offered in SpanishAverage interview length: 24 minutes

Confidence IntervalConfidence interval of +/- 3% margin of errorSubgroups will have larger margin of errorProjectable at 95% confidence level to total Skagit County populationConfidence level

Global WarmingLong-term trend of a global rising temperatureChanges in the climate resulting from a long-term trend of increasing average temperature/Often used interchangeably in daily communication, technically slightly different. Global warming is the term Yale uses in surveys and it is the term used and heard most commonly by the public.Climate Change

FINDINGSThe following findings are highlights of survey results.

Key Survey Findings

Skagit County residents, to a striking degree more than the general U.S. population, think:Global warming is happening and human-causedMost scientists think global warming is happeningGlobal warming is harming people in the USA right nowGLOBAL WARMING PERCEPTIONS: SUMMARY

Skagit County residents, to a striking degree more than the general U.S. population, also are: “Very worried” about global warmingGLOBAL WARMING PERCEPTIONS: SUMMARY

8 in 10 Skagit County residents think global warming is happeningNATIONALLY:2 in 3What do you think: Do you think that global warming is happening, or not? If you’re not sure, just let me know. Base: Total respondents (n=1000).GLOBAL WARMING PERCEPTIONS: DETAILS

6 in 10 Skagit County residents think global warming is mostly caused by human activityNATIONALLY:5 in10Assuming global warming is happening, do you think it is... Base: Total respondents (n=1000).GLOBAL WARMING PERCEPTIONS: DETAILS

Over half of Skagit County residents understand most scientists think global warming is happeningNATIONALLY:1 in 3Which of the following statements comes closest to your own view? Base: Total respondents (n=1000).GLOBAL WARMING PERCEPTIONS: DETAILS

Almost half of Skagit County residents think global warming is harming people in the U.S. nowWhen do you think global warming will start to harm people in the United States? Would you say... Base: Total respondents (n=1000).GLOBAL WARMING PERCEPTIONS: DETAILSNATIONALLY:1 in 3

6 in 10 Skagit County residents are worried about global warming; 2 in 10 are very worriedHow worried are you about global warming – very worried, somewhat worried, not very worried, or not at all worried? Base: Total respondents.NATIONALLY: 5 in 10;1 in 10GLOBAL WARMING PERCEPTIONS: DETAILS

Key Findings

2 in 3 Skagit County residents, think global warming will harm those in Skagit County within 25 yearsMany residents perceive severity of key impacts is increasingSkagit County residents see personal risk in many likely global warming impactsLow income people perceive greater riskIMPACTS IN SKAGIT COUNTY: SUMMARY

2 in 3 Skagit County residents think global warming will harm Skagit County residents within 25 yearsWhen do you think global warming will start to harm people in Skagit County? Would you say... Base: Total respondents.IMPACTS IN SKAGIT COUNTY: DETAILS

Many perceive severity of key impacts is increasingIn your opinion, have each of following become more severe, less severe, or stayed about the same in the Skagit County over the past several years? Base: Skagit Co. residents (n=1,000)48%38%37%31%28%28%21%15%IMPACTS IN SKAGIT COUNTY: DETAILS

Skagit County residents See Personal Risk in Many Global Warming ImpactsIn your opinion, how likely is it that each of the following would directly impact you or your family in Skagit County? First… Base: Total Skagit Co. residents who think global warming is happening (n=788).% who say very / somewhat likely to have personal impactIMPACTS IN SKAGIT COUNTY: DETAILS

Residents with incomes less than $20,000/yr perceive greater threat from global warmingIMPACTS IN SKAGIT COUNTY: DETAILS

Key Findings

35% of Skagit County residents feel it is very important to prepare Skagit County for the impacts from global warming and an additional 38% feel it is moderately important for a total of 73%.PERCEPTIONS ON TAKING ACTIONImportant to preparePlease tell me, in your opinion, whether the following are very important, moderately important, not very important, not at all important…To prepare for the potential impacts of global warming in Skagit County? Base: Skagit Co. residents (n=1,000)

The majority of Skagit County residents think these entities should do more to protect Skagit County from global warming:PERCEPTIONS ON TAKING ACTIONDo you think the following should be doing much more, more, less much less, about the same as it is doing now to prepare for the potential impacts of global warming in Skagit County? Base: Skagit Co. residents (n=1,000)

The majority of Skagit County residents think individuals in Skagit County (65%) should do more to prepare for the impacts from global warmingPERCEPTIONS ON TAKING ACTIONIndividualsshould do moreDo you think the following should be doing much more, more, less much less, about the same as it is doing now to prepare for the potential impacts of global warming in Skagit County? Base: Skagit Co. residents (n=1,000)

Key Findings

The majority of Skagit County residents get global warming information from:INFORMATION SOURCES AND NEEDS: SUMMARYPlease tell me whether or not you ever get information about global warming from the following. First…Base: Total Skagit Co. residents (n=1000).

9% of Skagit County residents get their global warming information from SC2INFORMATION SOURCES AND NEEDS: SUMMARYPlease tell me whether or not you ever get information about global warming from the following. First…Base: Total Skagit Co. residents (n=1000).

Skagit County residents get global warming information from a range of sourcesINFORMATION SOURCES AND NEEDS: DETAILPlease tell me whether or not you ever get information about global warming from the following. First... Base: Skagit Co. residents (n=1,000)NOTE: Range of other responses not provided

30% of Skagit County residents say they need more information to protect themselves when they consider flooding, water supply, landslides and other natural issuesINFORMATION SOURCES AND NEEDSNeed more information

54% of those who felt they needed more information to protect themselves and their family did not finish high schoolINFORMATION SOURCES AND NEEDS

Summary:Improving Resiliency in Skagit County

Summary: ChallengeSkagit County residents are well aware of the challenge:Large majorities believe global warming is real (79%) and human-caused (59%)Most are worried about global warming (65%) and believe Skagit County will be harmed within 25 years (65%)About 1/3 think the Skagit County area and its residents are already being harmed (31%)

Summary: SolutionMost Skagit County residents believe it is important to prepare, to find solutions:Large majorities believe it is important to prepare for the effects of global warming (73%)

Summary: ActionMajorities think entities should do more to protect Skagit County:Federal (66%), state (65%) and local government (60%) should actBusinesses (57%) should actNon-governmental organizations (57-62%) should act

Summary: ActionMajorities think individuals should do more to protect Skagit County:Individuals (65%) should act

Summary: ActionAction usually requires confidence in the challenge and solution:1/3 of people said they needed more information (30%)

For more information, contact Carol MacIlroy atcmacilroy@gmail.com or 206–293-4741.www.skagitclimatescience.org

Thank YouThis project has been funded in part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency under assistance agreement 00J30901-0 to the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community. The contents of this website do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Environmental Protection Agency, nor does mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use. Additional support has graciously been provided by the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, City of Anacortes and Seattle City Light.