New Global Warming Survey Finds Skepticism Among Tea Party Members

A new survey on U.S. views concerning global warming based on political party affiliation finds agreement across party lines for the need to fund renewable energy research, but wide disparity over whether global warming is even happening. The survey by the Yale Project on Climate Change Communications — the first to include detailed views of those identifying themselves as Tea Party members — finds that only 34 percent of Tea Party members say they believe global warming is happening, compared to 78 percent of Democrats, 71 percent of independents, and 53 percent of Republicans. In addition, the survey found that Tea Party respondents are much more likely to say they are “very well informed” about global warming than other groups, and are much more likely to say they “do not need any more information” about global warming to make up their minds. A majority in all four groups said they support funding for research into renewable sources of energy, as well as tax rebates for those who buy energy-efficient vehicles or solar panels.