A majority of Republican voters in South Carolina believe
global warming is occurring, but is a problem people can
resolve, according to a new survey.
Ayres, McHenry and Associates surveyed 500 Republicans likely
to vote in the 2008 presidential primary. It found most respondents
support a cap on carbon emissions and incentives for companies
to stay below the carbon pollution limit.
Carbon dioxide pollution from cars and factories is a major
contributor to global warming, according to researchers.
Ayres, McHenry and Associates conducted the survey from
Jan. 24-28 for Environmental Defense, a national conservation
group that has spent the past year raising awareness of global
warming in South Carolina and selected other states. The
survey's margin of error is plus or minus 4.4 percent.
The Ayres company is helping Environmental Defense map strategy
on climate change. Company principal Whit Ayres was once
an advisor to Republican Gov. Carroll Campbell who held office
from 1987-95.
"This says that a flat denial of global warming no longer
has any credibility,'' Ayres said. "The debate now is over
what we do about it.''
Rising sea levels, disruption of wildlife populations and
more intense storms are tied to global warming in South Carolina.
Climate change also has been linked to soaring insurance
costs on the state's coast. An international panel of scientists
is expected to release a report today reinforcing the significance
of the problem.
Dick Harpootlian, a former Democratic party chief in South
Carolina, said the Republican survey shows that former Democratic
Vice-President Al Gore's message has gotten out. Gore produced
a book and a movie last year chronicling the problem of global
warming.
"The nation owes a debt of gratitude to Al Gore for talking
about it to begin with,'' Harpootlian said. "Even Republicans
are beginning to be concerned.''
"This all feeds into people's fear for their lives and property
-- and if there's one thing the Republican cares more about
than anything in the world, it's his property.''
According to the survey of 500 South Carolina residents
likely to vote in the 2008 Republican presidential primary:
- 56
percent of potential presidential primary voters think
global warming is happening
- 53 percent believe it is possible to
reduce the effects of global warming
- 81 percent think the
United States should take action to reduce carbon dioxide
coming from cars, factories and power plants.
- 53 percent
supported a plan to cap carbon emissions and allow companies
beneath the carbon limit to sell pollution credits to companies
over the limit.
- Nearly 9 out of 10 Republican primary voters
say environmental issues are somewhat important
Gov. Mark Sanford, a Republican, recently said he would
appoint a climate change panel in South Carolina to study
the effects of global warming and provide a plan to attack
the problem at the state level.
