There were clear partisan differences in survey responses. While about a third of Democrats named global warming as the top environmental issue facing the state, 42% of Republicans chose government overregulation. Independents were most likely to choose wildfires.
Despite their concerns about rising costs, 55% of Californians surveyed believe that stricter state environmental regulations are worth it. (Generally, environmental regulations can cause some short-term loss of profit for businesses but pay for themselves with healthier people, averted hospital visits and fewer premature deaths.)
Most surveyed by PPIC, 6 in 10, favor the state government making its own policies, separate from the federal government, on climate change, and a similar majority said they want to see the government do more.
“I thought it was really interesting, there was a general dissatisfaction expressed with the amount of effort that the state and local governments are putting into this problem,” Wara said. “I think the state has been trying to do a lot. Local governments have been trying to do a lot as well. But there’s a recognition that we need to do even more. And so what does that look like?”
That could mean spending more money on local fire departments or the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. It could also mean paying more to prepare neighborhoods and cities for fire or sea level rise.
While Californians seem to want more action on climate change and are willing to support it — notably, state voters passed a $10 billion climate bond with almost 60% support last November — they are simultaneously and understandably wary of paying more money for anything. That could include paying higher prices for more sustainable home insurance or extra fees for electrical infrastructure investments.
“Californians have a preference for environmental quality, that’s been true forever,” Wara said. “[But] can they afford to express that preference in their choices? It’s getting harder and harder for them to afford that.”
PPIC published a detailed analysis of the survey on its website.