Research indicates wealthy white Republicans are less likely to support policy proposals to reduce carbon emissions
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Although the Paris Climate Deal certainly represents a step forward for the international community, there are still many potential pitfalls to addressing climate change. New data suggest that the overwhelmingly white donor class may be one such obstacle.
Recently, political scientist Brian Schaffner and I wrote a piece in Mother Jones showing
that the GOP donor class is both far more likely to deny the reality of
climate change and far less likely to support policy proposals to
reduce emissions.
However, beyond being more conservative than the population in general, the data so far available suggest that the donor class is far whiter than the general population. CCES data suggest that that may well have a major impact on policy.
However, beyond being more conservative than the population in general, the data so far available suggest that the donor class is far whiter than the general population. CCES data suggest that that may well have a major impact on policy.
Using
2012 and 2014 CCES, we can examine divides between white and non-white
donors. These divides are large and consistent: white donors are more
likely to deny climate change and oppose action to remedy it. CCES asks
a series of questions on climate change, and two of them (“Global
Climate change has been established as a serious problem, and immediate
action is necessary” and “There is enough evidence that climate change
is taking place and some action should be taken”) meet scientific
muster. However, while 55% of white donors agree, a whopping 71% of
non-white donors do. In addition, non-white donors are more supportive
of the EPA strengthening enforcement, even it costs jobs (58% to 49%).
The
gap on whether states should adopt minimum fuel requirements for
renewables is too small to be statistically significant, thought it
points in the same direction, however, the gap on car fuel economy
standards is larger (70% to 65%). Finally, on the question of whether
the EPA should regulate CO2 emissions, there is also a wide divide (71%
to 58%).
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