U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Vehicle Technologies Office

Fact #396: October 31, 2005
Public Perceptions about the Seriousness of Selected Environmental and Economic Problems

In May 2005, Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies conducted a survey of 1,002 adults to gather their opinions about environmental issues. Ninety-two percent of respondents thought that dependence on imported oil is a very serious or somewhat serious problem and 89% thought that the high price of gasoline is a very serious or somewhat serious problem.

How serious a problem would you say is�.
Survey conducted to get opinions about environmental issues including dependence on foreign oil, gasoline prices, jobs and the economy, air pollution, global warming, and climate change.

Supporting Information

How serious a problem would you say is: Very Serious Somewhat serious Not very serious Not at all serious
Dependence on foreign oil 68% 24% 4% 1%
The high price of gasoline 68% 21% 8% 3%
Jobs and the economy 57% 32% 8% 1%
Air pollution 53% 31% 12% 2%
Global warming 45% 29% 13% 7%
Climate change 34% 32% 21% 7%

Source: The Yale University School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Topline Report, June 9, 2005. Survey conducted May 15-22, 2005, N=1,002.

 

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