The gap between the views of Republicans and Democrats on climate change in the US appears to be growing, with potentially serious ramifications as the presidential election looms.
Riley Dunlap and colleagues from Oklahoma State University and Michigan State University, USA, analysed responses to Gallup poll questions on climate change between 2001 and 2016. They found that slightly more Republicans believe climate change is happening and poses a serious threat than in 2015. But the gap between Republicans and Democrats has grown across almost all other measures.
The authors say this is likely to remain the case due to the 'political moderator effect', which means greater education and understanding of climate change affects Democrats' views, but not those of Republicans. As party loyalty tends to override other electoral considerations, candidates' positions on climate change are arguably more significant than individuals' views. The authors note that this potentially makes citizens' voting choices the most direct climate-related decision they will take.
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Hope, M. Party split on climate. Nature Clim Change 6, 895 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/nclimate3130
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nclimate3130
