CLIMATE CHANGE IS AN EXISTENTIAL ISSUE FOR ALL OF US, BUT WHAT DO AMERICANS REALLY THINK ABOUT IT?

A REPORT FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO FINDS THAT JUST LESS THAN HALF OF AMERICANS BELIEVE THAT CLIMATE CHANGE IS HUMAN-DRIVEN.

NEARLY TWO THIRDS ARE UNWILLING TO PAY ANY AMOUNT OF MONEY TO COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE.

TWO OUT OF FIVE AMERICANS SAY THEY ARE LIKELY TO PURCHASE AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE.

JOINING US IS SAM ORIE, DIRECTOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO ENERGY POLICY INSTITUTE.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> THIS IS A POLL YOU HAVE CONDUCTED SEMIANNUALLY SINCE ABOUT 2016.

HOW HAVE ATTITUDES CHANGED FROM WHEN YOU FIRST STARTED RESEARCHING?

>> YES, WHEN WE CONDUCTED THE POLL THIS YEAR, YOU MENTIONED SOME OF THE CHANGES.

A LARGE MAJORITY OF AMERICANS BELIEVE THAT CLIMATE CHANGE IS HAPPENING, AND A SMALLER NOT BELIEVE IT IS BECAUSE OF HUMANS PERSONALLY.

BUT THERE IS A BIG DROP IN BELIEVING THAT IT IS CAUSED BY HUMANS.

>> THIS IS SURPRISING.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS FEELING THIS?

>> I THINK THROUGHOUT THE TIME WE CONDUCTED THE POLL ON THAT QUESTION, SUPPORT FROM REPUBLICANS HAS ALWAYS BEEN IN ABOUT THE 30% RANGE, WHERE THEY BELIEVE THAT CLIMATE CHANGE IS MOSTLY OR ENTIRELY CAUSED BY HUMANS.

BUT WE VIEW A BIG DROP AMONG INDEPENDENT AND AMONG DEMOCRATS AS WELL.

>> INTERESTING.

THERE IS BROAD SUPPORT FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAS SUGGESTED HAVING TWO THIRDS OF CARS SOLD BEING EVs.

BASED ON ATTITUDES, HOW FEASIBLE IS THAT?

>> IT IS INTERESTING.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT LAST YEAR, ELECTRIC VEHICLES WERE ABOUT FIVE TO 10% OF VEHICLES ON THE ROAD.

IN THIS POLL, RESPONDENTS SAID THAT THEY WERE AT LEAST SOMEWHAT INTERESTED IN BUYING ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

SO THAT SHOWS YOU THAT THERE IS SOME ROOM TO GROW.

BUT AS YOU SAID, THE BY THE MINISTRATION HAS INTRODUCED THIS RULE, AND THE GOAL OF THE DRAFT IS TO DRIVE EV SALES TO TWO THIRDS, SO THERE IS QUITE A GAP BETWEEN THOSE WHO WOULD CONSIDER BUYING ONE AND THE NATIONAL GOAL.

>> A LOT OF GROUND HAVE TO BE MADE UP.

HOW DO YOU TRANSLATE THE SENTIMENTS IN THE POLL INTO PUBLIC POLICY THAT WOULD EFFECTIVELY COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE?

>> I THINK THE BIGGEST THING IS THAT WE NEED POLICY.

WHEN I THINK ABOUT WHAT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THAT AMERICANS CAN DO ON CLIMATE CHANGE, IT IS TURNING OFF THE LIGHTS WHEN THEY LEAVE THE ROOM.

THOSE THINGS ARE GOOD.

BUT REALLY THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO IS SUPPORT POLITICIANS WHO WILL ENACT POLICIES AROUND CLIMATE CHANGE.

>> WHEN I LOOK AT THESE RESULTS, IT SEEMS LIKE AMERICANS WILL DO SOMETHING ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE IF THEY DETERMINE THAT IT IS COST-EFFECTIVE TO THEM PERSONALLY TO DO IT.

SO GOING BACK TO WHAT BILL CLINTON SAID, IT IS THE ECONOMY, STUPID.

IS IT NOT?

>> HOW DO WE GET TO FOR ON 10 AMERICANS WHO SAID THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO PURCHASE ONE?

THEY GAVE US THE ANSWER.

FOR