California Construction News staff writer
According to a Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) poll, Californians support the state’s climate agenda and now say climate change is a top concern.
More than $52 billion has been announced to address climate change, spearhead efforts to drastically cut pollution, transition away from fossil fuels, streamline new clean infrastructure projects and “hold Big Oil accountable for price gouging”.
In the PPIC poll, more respondents now say that climate change is a top concern and agree that “it’s worsening extreme weather events like flooding, extreme heat, drought and wild fires”.
Californians polled also said the state “should lead the nation in addressing it – supporting actions to create a 100 per cent clean electric grid, transition away from diesel trucks, prohibit new oil drilling next to schools and communities and achieve net zero carbon pollution.”
A strong majority favor the state’s goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and a law that requires 100 percent of the state’s electricity to come from renewable sources by 2045.
Also, about eight in ten respondents said climate change “is a top concern” or one of several important concerns for them personally and fewer said it is not an important concern – 18%.
Here are some of the questions and responses:
How important is it for the state government to pass regulations and spend money now on efforts to prepare for the future effects of climate change, such as flooding, storms, and wildfires? Is it:
- 62% very important
- 27% somewhat important
- 11% not too important
To address climate change, do you favor or oppose the state law that requires California to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to 40 percent below 1990 levels by the year 2030?
- 73% favor
- 26% oppose
- 1% don’t know
Do you favor or oppose the state law that requires 100 percent of the state’s electricity to come from renewable energy sources by the year 2045?
- 68% favor
- 31% oppose
- 1% don’t know
Do you favor or oppose the state banning the sale of all new diesel-powered heavy-duty and medium-duty trucks in California by 2036?
- 56% favor
- 43% oppose
- 1% don’t know
Do you favor or oppose the state setting a goal to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible, but no later than 2045?
- 69% favor
- 30% oppose
- 1% don’t know
