Americans believe climate change is happening but are willing to pay only $1 in carbon tax, poll shows

By Thomas Catenacci

The majority of Americans believe that human-caused climate change is occurring but are unwilling to pay more than $1 extra to mitigate its effects, a new poll shows.

A recent poll by The Associated Press and the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago showed that 75%  of Americans think that human activities cause some climate change. Of those surveyed, 55% said that they would be in favor of Congress passing legislation making the U.S. less reliant on fossil fuels.

However, when asked whether they would be tolerant of added energy costs, respondents balked, the poll showed. Democrats have proposed a number of provisions in their pending budget reconciliation package that would result in higher energy costs for American consumers.

Among those asked if they would be in favor of paying just $1 per month extra to combat climate change, only 52% said they would be either somewhat or fully supportive, according to the AP survey. Just 35% of those surveyed said that they would support a $10 per month fee, the next highest option presented by researchers.

“I would say, like 5, 10 dollars, as long as it’s really being used for what it should be,” Krystal Chivington, one of the respondents, told the AP.

Another respondent, Mark Sembach, said that corporations should bear the brunt of the costs associated with transitioning from fossil fuels to renewables, according to the AP.

“I think it needs to fall a great deal on responsible corporations that’s — and unfortunately … most corporations aren’t responsible,” Sembach told the AP. “And I think there needs to be a lot of pushback as to who ultimately pays for that.”

In recent weeks, Democrats faced increased pressure from environmental activists to pass climate provisions in their budget. However, some Democrats in Congress, including Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, pushed back on many of the most costly ideas.

Manchin shot down the $150 billion Clean Electricity Performance Program, a central part of the budget in addition to a potential carbon tax. President Joe Biden also rejected a carbon tax.

“By the way, if you notice the — you know, the way you usually pay for infrastructure bill — infrastructure is by gasoline taxes? I wouldn’t allow that because that would tax people making under $400,000,” Biden said during remarks in Scranton, Pennsylvania, on Oct. 20.

But the Democrats’ budget bill still includes a methane fee, which industry groups and elected officials argued would increase energy costs for consumers.

Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities for this original content, email licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.

5 thoughts on “Americans believe climate change is happening but are willing to pay only $1 in carbon tax, poll shows

  1. The climate has been changing since the first 2 dust motes decided to unite to start forming the earth. No amount of money spent to stop or reverse it will ever do any good. The thing we have shown to be good at, with regards to the climate, is to use, our god given brains, to adapt.

  2. The majority of Americans believe that human-caused climate change is occurring and I agree,
    but it surely isn’t caused by Vermont as Vermont’s Climate Council is promoting, along with the
    foolish report that ” we ” taxpayers paid for, blaming ” Farting Cows ” ………..

    Why aren’t the ” Climate Crusaders ” really tackling the real contributors like China, Russia, India
    just to name a few, spewing more toxins in a week, than we ” VT ” will do in a 100 years, agenda,
    agenda, agenda………….follow the money

    I’ll contribute a $1, not the trillions that the feckless DemocRATs are looking for and that includes
    Vermont’s very own barking buffoon “Socialist Sanders , talk about flatulence !!!

    • “Why aren’t the ” Climate Crusaders ” really tackling the real contributors”

      The horse’s head (or more likely the other end) kerry did try to bring
      China into the Paris accord deal and after much begging and threats of playing James Taylor’s you got a friend… China said Ruc off and get outta
      the way… we got coal fired plants to be building… So if the climate czar can’t convince them no one will be able to. If the warm mongers want to do something I’d suggest planting more trees…rather then flushing the money down the EV hole..

  3. Willem…….It’s good that you posted this article, it’s important for a better overall understanding and much needed balance in the conversation regarding the impact of climate change. Without your input, most readers would be unaware of the India story.

    In Vermont the vast majority of media have served as flacks for the renewable energy industry and it’s all out effort to financially capitalize on climate. There are of course exceptions, as here, that have allowed your contribution to be heard was well as the good work of Rob Roper on the internal workings of the Climate Council meetings that most Vermonters would have never been made aware of.

    At this point there are many critical issues and final recommendation soon to come out of the Climate Council that will very dramatically impact all Vermonters………Vermonters need to be made aware of what is coming toward them so they can intelligently respond…….This requires all Vermont media to start addressing these issues and eschew their role as renewable energy industry flacks.

  4. Climate Change Contributes to Another Year of Record Crop Production in India
    https://wattsupwiththat.com/2021/10/28/climate-change-contributes-to-another-year-of-record-crop-production-in-india/

    One of the largest agricultural countries in the world, India, expects its highest summer crop production for 2021–2022.

    This comes at a critical juncture when energy shortage crippled food production in China. The record numbers will play a critical role in maintaining global food security.

    The record harvest also challenges claims that climate change will reduce global crop production.

    For example, the Observer Research Foundation—an organization that is partnered by Apple, Bill Gates, Uber, Google, and Microsoft—says climate change threatens India’s food security. That assumes Indian agriculture is highly vulnerable to climate disasters.

    But India’s agricultural production has been at historic highs recently, and it is projected to increase in coming decades due to increased rains from warming oceans.

    Record Food Crop Production in Consecutive Years, Thanks to Monsoon Rains

    For most of the farmers in India, the Monsoon rainfall is the lifeline, deciding between profit and loss. This year, the rains were normal in terms of the Long Period Average used as a yardstick.

    Based on the rainfall amount, the Indian government has predicted the Monsoon food crop (plants sown during the summer season) production to exceed 150 million tons in crop year 2021–2022, a new all-time high.

    Even if India receives moderate rainfall during the next few months, it will record its fifth consecutive annual increase in food grain output. Despite unpredictable rains, the country’s progressive improvement of year-on-year performance is a great boost to the economy and to global efforts to ensure food security.

    Welcome Relief for the Country’s Poor and Marginalized

    Paddy (rice) and pulses (lentils)—two key staple foods for India’s 300 million in poverty—are expected to be the largest contributors to this record production. For most people in India, a rice (or wheat) based food is accompanied by lentils and vegetables.

    The government provides free (or highly subsidized) rice, wheat, lentils and sugar to the country’s 300 million poor, a program that picked up pace during the pandemic.

    To feed these 300 million, and the other 1 billion people in the country, agricultural production is critical. The use of fertilizers, pesticides, insecticides, and efficient irrigation technologies have greatly improved crop production.

    Inference on Current Climate Theories

    Other major factors behind India’s remarkable agricultural success have been the introduction of gene-edited crops by Norman Borlaug in the 1970s, the increased atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration levels, and the optimum temperature levels for plant growth.

    Contrary to popular media claims, present CO2 concentrations and temperatures have helped plant growth—including food crops—globally, as attested by scientific studies.

    So, the notion that climate change will disrupt global food crop production is false. If anything, climate change has aided plant growth and has been the perfect ally for farmers worldwide.

    India’s case is not unique. Wheat production has reached historic highs in recent years globally. The United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization says wheat production will hit a record 780 million tons in 2021: “The world cereal production is also expected to rise by 1.9 per cent, lifted by higher-than-expected outturns reported for maize in West Africa, for rice in India, and wheat harvests in the European Union, Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation.”

    Warming temperatures in no way endanger food production. Even if temperatures rise drastically, GM food crops capable of withstanding droughts are readily available to help. However, cold weather fronts pose a danger to plants globally. So thank God for global warming.

Comments are closed.