FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Survey: Latinos Reject Rubio Approach To Climate Change, Clean Energy
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Leslie Maloy, lmaloy@hastingsgroup.com and 703-276-3256
SURVEY: LATINOS REJECT RUBIO APPROACH TO CLIMATE CHANGE, CLEAN ENERGY
Poll Shows Latinos Overwhelmingly Support Obama Call For Action on Industrial Carbon Pollution
WASHINGTON (February 19, 2013) – About three out of four Latinos believe that climate change is a serious problem and a substantial majority support President Obama using his authority to reduce its main cause: dangerous carbon pollution, according to a national poll of 1,218 registered voters conducted after last week’s State of the Union speech for the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). The poll included an oversample of 183 Latinos.
The survey findings are a clear rejection of the dismissive tone taken by Senator Marco Rubio in his response to Obama’s State of the Union address. Rubio shrugged off the need for action on climate change, saying “our government can’t control the weather.”
Latinos clearly disagree with Rubio, with a strong majority convinced that action is needed soon to reduce a real threat of climate disruption.
Released on the heels of the hottest year ever in the U.S. and one marked by extreme weather, the poll of Latinos conducted by Public Policy Polling for NRDC found:
- 74 percent of Latinos believe climate change is a serious or very serious problem, a higher level than the 65 percent among all American adults.
- 68 percent of Latinos support the president using his authority to reduce dangerous carbon pollution, including 60 percent of all American adults.
- 69 percent of Latinos agree with the president’s statement that “for the sake of our children” and our future, we must do more to combat climate change, compared to 62 percent of all American adults.
- 64 percent of Latinos agreed with Obama’s promise to make addressing climate change a priority in his second term.
- 74 percent of Latinos think that climate change is already a problem or will become a problem in the near future.
- A clear majority of Latinos (65 percent) agree with the vast majority of scientists that Superstorm Sandy, drought and wildfire are the effects of climate change. More than two thirds of Latinos (67 percent) said the country should do more to address climate change, including 51 percent of independents, while just 14 percent said we’re doing enough already.
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Voces Verdes is the independent, non-partisan voice of Latino leaders for the environment. Launched in 2009, this actively growing coalition of Latino leaders advocates for sound policy and recognizes the importance of balancing economic growth, environmental protection and prosperity. For more information, go to www.vocesverdes.org. The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 1.3 million members and online activists. Since 1970, our lawyers, scientists, and other environmental specialists have worked to protect the world's natural resources, public health, and the environment. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Livingston, Montana, and Beijing. Visit us at www.nrdc.org and follow us on Twitter @NRDC.