12016 ORC International Proprietary & Confidential
ATTITUDES TOWARD AIR POLLUTION,
TRANSPORTATION AND FUEL EFFICIENCY
August 4, 2016
22016 ORC International Proprietary & Confidential
Table of Contents
Page
Methodology…………………………... 3
Executive Summary………………….. 4
Detailed Findings……………………... 7
Questionnaire ………………………... 28
32016 ORC International Proprietary & Confidential
Methodology
o This report presents the findings of an telephone study conducted among 1,012 US adults ages 18 and older. Interviewing for this survey was completed from July 21-24, 2016.
o The study was conducted in ORC International’s Telephone CARAVAN omnibus survey using two probability samples: randomly selected landline telephone numbers and randomly selected mobile (cell) telephone numbers. The combined sample consists of 1,012 adults (18 years old and older) living in the continental United States. Of the 1,012 interviews, 512 were from the landline sample and 500 from the cell phone sample. The margin of error for the sample of 1,012 is +/- 3.08% at the 95% confidence level. Smaller subgroups will have larger error margins. For instance, bases sizes of 500-510 have an error margin of +/ 4% , while the smallest subgroup reported on herein (76) carries an error margin of +/- 11%
o Surveys are collected by trained and supervised US based interviewers using ORC International’s computer assisted telephone interviewing (CATI) system.
• Completed interviews are weighted by five variables – age, sex, geographic region, race and education – using data from the U.S. Census Bureau to help ensure reliable and accurate representation of the total U.S. population, 18 years of age and older.
• Where applicable, red circles indicate a significant difference at the 95% confidence level.
42016 ORC International Proprietary & Confidential
Executive Summary
52016 ORC International Proprietary & Confidential
Executive Summaryo 77 percent of Americans think “cars and trucks contribute to the problem of
air pollution” a great deal or somewhat. This view is held by 87 percent of
Democrats, 77 percent of Independents and 69 percent of Republicans.
o Women (84 percent) and African Americans (82 percent) are somewhat more
likely than men to think “cars and trucks contribute to the problem of air
pollution” a great deal or somewhat.
o 78 percent of Americans agree that “state transportation agencies should
take vehicle-related carbon pollution and climate change into account when
developing transportation plans, and also seek ways to reduce that pollution.”
This view is held by 92 percent of Democrats, 79 percent of Independents,
and 64 percent of Republicans.
o Millennials and 18-34 year-olds (both at 88 percent), as well as women and
Hispanics (both at 86 percent), are particularly inclined to agree that “state
transportation agencies should take vehicle-related carbon pollution and
climate change into account when developing transportation plans, and also
seek ways to reduce that pollution.”
62016 ORC International Proprietary & Confidential
Executive Summary (con.)
o 95 percent of Americans agree with the statement: 'Automakers should
continue to improve fuel economy for all vehicle types.' This view is held by
97 percent of Democrats, 94 percent of Independents, and 93 percent of
Republicans.
o 79 percent of Americans agree with the statement: 'The U.S. government
should continue to increase fuel efficiency standards and enforce them.' This
view is held by 90 percent of Democrats, 76 percent of Independents, and 68
percent of Republicans.
o African Americans (86 percent),18-34 year-olds (85 percent), and Millennials
(84 percent) are particularly inclined to agree that: 'The U.S. government
should continue to increase fuel efficiency standards and enforce them.'
72016 ORC International Proprietary & Confidential
Detailed Findings
82016 ORC International Proprietary & Confidential
Nearly all Americans see cars and trucks as significant contributors to
air pollution.
A great deal, 38%
Somewhat, 39%
A minor amount, 17%
Not at all, 5%
Don't know, 1%
P1 How much would you say cars and trucks contribute to the problem of air pollution? (Base=1,012)
77%
A great deal or
Somewhat
92016 ORC International Proprietary & Confidential
While similar proportions see cars and trucks as contributors to air
pollution regardless of generation, the belief is strongest among
millennials, with 44% saying cars contribute a great deal. This
compares to 47% of Baby Boomers who say cars contribute somewhat
to air pollution.
P1 How much would you say cars and trucks contribute to the problem of air pollution? (Bases: Millennials=199, Gen X=196,
Baby Boomers=417)
44%
32%
17%
5%1%
37%40%
18%
5%1%
32%
47%
17%
3%1%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
A Great Deal Somewhat A Minor Amount Not at all Don't know
Millennials
Gen X
Baby Boomers
102016 ORC International Proprietary & Confidential
Women are more likely to see cars and trucks as contributors, with 84%
saying they contribute at least somewhat to air pollution, compared to
70% of men.
P1 How much would you say cars and trucks contribute to the problem of air pollution? (Bases: Men=503, Women=509)
34%36%
23%
6%
1%
42% 42%
11%
4%1%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
A Great Deal Somewhat A Minor Amount Not at all Don't know
Men Women
112016 ORC International Proprietary & Confidential
While many see cars and trucks as contributors to air pollution
regardless of race, the belief is strongest among Hispanics, with 53%
saying cars contribute a great deal. This compares to 33% of
Caucasians who think cars contribute a great deal to air pollution.
P1 How much would you say cars and trucks contribute to the problem of air pollution? (Bases: Caucasian=711, African
American=89, Hispanic=76)
33%
44%
17%
4%1%
48%
35%
12%
4%1%
53%
24%
17%
5%1%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
A Great Deal Somewhat A Minor Amount Not at all Don't know
Caucasian
African American
Hispanic
122016 ORC International Proprietary & Confidential
The perspective that cars and trucks are contributors to air pollution is
held by majorities across party lines, with 69% of Republicans
responding a great deal of somewhat, compared to 87% of Democrats
and 78% of Independents
P1 How much would you say cars and trucks contribute to the problem of air pollution? (Bases: Democrats=403,
Independents=152, Republicans=394)
47%
40%
11%
1% 1%
42%
36%
18%
4%0%
28%
41%
22%
7%
2%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
A Great Deal Somewhat A Minor Amount Not at all Don't know
Democrat (incl Lean)
Independent
Republican (incl Lean)
132016 ORC International Proprietary & Confidential
Over three quarters agree that transportation agencies should take
vehicle related carbon pollution into account when developing
transportation plans.
Agree, 78%
Disagree, 19%
Don't know, 3%
P2 As you may know, national law requires state transportation agencies to develop long-range plans for how they will use
federal money on transportation projects over the next 20 years or more. The plan must identify transportation needs, address
issues like safety, and set priorities for transportation projects and budgets.
Now, there is a proposal to require states that receive federal money for transportation to assess the carbon pollution, which
contributes to climate change, that transportation plans may generate and seek ways to reduce it. They also will have to consider
the impact of transportation on air quality as part of their long-range plans.
Do you agree or disagree that state transportation agencies should take vehicle-related carbon pollution and climate change into
account when developing transportation plans, and also seek ways to reduce that pollution? (Base=1,012)
142016 ORC International Proprietary & Confidential
Agreement that state transportation agencies should take carbon
pollution into account is strong in all generations. Millennials are the
generation most likely to agree.
P2 As you may know, national law requires state transportation agencies to develop long-range plans for how they will use
federal money on transportation projects over the next 20 years or more. The plan must identify transportation needs, address
issues like safety, and set priorities for transportation projects and budgets.
Now, there is a proposal to require states that receive federal money for transportation to assess the carbon pollution, which
contributes to climate change, that transportation plans may generate and seek ways to reduce it. They also will have to consider
the impact of transportation on air quality as part of their long-range plans.
Do you agree or disagree that state transportation agencies should take vehicle-related carbon pollution and climate change into
account when developing transportation plans, and also seek ways to reduce that pollution? (Bases: Millennials=199, Gen X=196,
Baby Boomers=417)
88%
11%
1%
72%
24%
4%
74%
23%
2%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Agree Disagree Don’t know
Millennials
Gen X
Baby Boomers
152016 ORC International Proprietary & Confidential
While substantial majorities of both men and women agree that state
transportation agencies should take carbon pollution into account,
women are more likely than men to do so.
P2 As you may know, national law requires state transportation agencies to develop long-range plans for how they will use
federal money on transportation projects over the next 20 years or more. The plan must identify transportation needs, address
issues like safety, and set priorities for transportation projects and budgets.
Now, there is a proposal to require states that receive federal money for transportation to assess the carbon pollution, which
contributes to climate change, that transportation plans may generate and seek ways to reduce it. They also will have to consider
the impact of transportation on air quality as part of their long-range plans.
Do you agree or disagree that state transportation agencies should take vehicle-related carbon pollution and climate change into
account when developing transportation plans, and also seek ways to reduce that pollution? (Bases: Men=503, Women=509)
70%
28%
2%
86%
10%
4%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Agree Disagree Don’t know
Men
Women
162016 ORC International Proprietary & Confidential
Regardless of race -- Caucasian, African American, or Hispanic -- the
majority agree that state transportation agencies should take carbon
pollution into account.
P2 As you may know, national law requires state transportation agencies to develop long-range plans for how they will use
federal money on transportation projects over the next 20 years or more. The plan must identify transportation needs, address
issues like safety, and set priorities for transportation projects and budgets.
Now, there is a proposal to require states that receive federal money for transportation to assess the carbon pollution, which
contributes to climate change, that transportation plans may generate and seek ways to reduce it. They also will have to consider
the impact of transportation on air quality as part of their long-range plans.
Do you agree or disagree that state transportation agencies should take vehicle-related carbon pollution and climate change into
account when developing transportation plans, and also seek ways to reduce that pollution? (Bases: Caucasian=711, African
American=89, Hispanic=76)
78%
19%
3%
83%
13%
3%
86%
13%
1%0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Agree Disagree Don’t know
Caucasian
AfricanAmerican
Hispanic
172016 ORC International Proprietary & Confidential
Agreement that state transportation agencies should take carbon
pollution into account is strong across political affiliations, including
nearly two out of three Republicans.
P2 As you may know, national law requires state transportation agencies to develop long-range plans for how they will use
federal money on transportation projects over the next 20 years or more. The plan must identify transportation needs, address
issues like safety, and set priorities for transportation projects and budgets.
Now, there is a proposal to require states that receive federal money for transportation to assess the carbon pollution, which
contributes to climate change, that transportation plans may generate and seek ways to reduce it. They also will have to consider
the impact of transportation on air quality as part of their long-range plans.
Do you agree or disagree that state transportation agencies should take vehicle-related carbon pollution and climate change into
account when developing transportation plans, and also seek ways to reduce that pollution? (Bases: Democrats=403,
Independents=152, Republicans=394)
92%
6%2%
79%
19%
3%
64%
33%
2%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Agree Disagree Don’t know
Democrat (incl Lean)
Independent
Republican (incl Lean)
182016 ORC International Proprietary & Confidential
Practically everyone agrees automakers should continue to improve
fuel economy for all vehicle types.
Agree, 95%
Disagree, 5%
P3 Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
‘Automakers should continue to improve fuel economy for all vehicle types.’ (Base=1,012)
192016 ORC International Proprietary & Confidential
Agreement that automakers should continue to improve fuel economy
for all vehicle types cuts across generational lines.
P3 Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
‘Automakers should continue to improve fuel economy for all vehicle types.’ (Bases: Millennials=199, Gen X=196, Baby
Boomers=417)
96%
4%0%
92%
7%
1%
95%
5%0%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Agree Disagree Don’t know
Millennials
Gen X
Baby Boomers
202016 ORC International Proprietary & Confidential
Agreement that automakers should continue to improve fuel economy
for all vehicle types is nearly universal among both men and women.
P3 Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
‘Automakers should continue to improve fuel economy for all vehicle types.’ (Bases: Men=503, Women=509)
92%
8%
0%
97%
7%
0%0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Agree Disagree Don’t know
Men
Women
212016 ORC International Proprietary & Confidential
The belief that automakers should continue to improve fuel economy
for all vehicle types is overwhelmingly agreed regardless of race or
ethnicity
P3 Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
‘Automakers should continue to improve fuel economy for all vehicle types.’ (Bases: Caucasian=711, African American=89,
Hispanic=76)
94%
5%1%
94%
6%
0%
98%
2% 0%0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Agree Disagree Don’t know
Caucasian
AfricanAmerican
Hispanic
222016 ORC International Proprietary & Confidential
Agreement that automakers should continue to improve fuel economy
for all vehicle types cuts across partisan lines.
P3 Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
‘Automakers should continue to improve fuel economy for all vehicle types.’ (Bases: Democrats=403, Independents=152,
Republicans=394)
97%
3%0%
94%
6%
0%
93%
6%1%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Agree Disagree Don’t know
Democrat (incl Lean)
Independent
Republican (incl Lean)
232016 ORC International Proprietary & Confidential
Eight out of ten Americans agree with the statement that: ‘The U.S.
government should continue to increase fuel efficiency standards and
enforce them.’
Agree, 79%
Disagree, 20%Don't know, 2%
P4 Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
‘The U.S. government should continue to increase fuel efficiency standards and enforce them.’ (Base=1,012)
242016 ORC International Proprietary & Confidential
While Millennials are most supportive of increased fuel efficiency
mandates, support cuts across generational lines with over two thirds of
Gen Xers in agreement and over three quarters of Boomers.
P4 Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
‘The U.S. government should continue to increase fuel efficiency standards and enforce them.’ (Bases: Millennials=199, Gen
X=196, Baby Boomers=417)
84%
14%
2%
73%
27%
0%
78%
20%
2%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Agree Disagree Don’t know
Millennials
Gen X
Baby Boomers
252016 ORC International Proprietary & Confidential
Women are more likely to support increased fuel efficiency mandates
than men.
P4 Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
‘The U.S. government should continue to increase fuel efficiency standards and enforce them.’ (Bases: Men=503, Women 509)
74%
24%
2%
83%
16%
1%0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Agree Disagree Don’t know
Men Women
262016 ORC International Proprietary & Confidential
While African Americans are the most supportive of increased fuel
efficiency mandates, the majority of each race agrees that ‘The U.S.
government should continue to support fuel efficiency standards and
enforce them.’
P4 Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
‘The U.S. government should continue to increase fuel efficiency standards and enforce them.’ (Bases: Caucasian=711, African
American=89, Hispanic=76)
78%
21%
1%
86%
13%
1%
77%
18%
5%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Agree Disagree Don’t know
Caucasian
AfricanAmerican
Hispanic
272016 ORC International Proprietary & Confidential
While Democrats are most supportive of increased fuel efficiency
mandates, majorities of Independents and Republicans say they agree
that government fuel efficiency standards should be increased and
enforced.
P4 Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
‘The U.S. government should continue to increase fuel efficiency standards and enforce them.’ (Bases: Democrats=403,
Independents=152, Republicans=394)
90%
9%
1%
76%
22%
2%
68%
30%
2%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Agree Disagree Don’t know
Democrat (incl Lean)
Independent
Republican (incl Lean)
282016 ORC International Proprietary & Confidential
Questionnaire
292016 ORC International Proprietary & Confidential
On another subject…
P1 How much would you say cars and trucks contribute to the problem of air pollution?
(READ ENTIRE LIST BEFORE RECORDING ONE ANSWER)
Total
(A)
(n=1,012)
A great deal 38%
Somewhat 39%
A minor amount 17%
Or, not at all 5%
DON’T KNOW/
REFUSED
1%
P2 As you may know, national law requires state transportation agencies to develop long-range
plans for how they will use federal money on transportation projects over the next 20 years or more.
The plan must identify transportation needs, address issues like safety, and set priorities for
transportation projects and budgets.
Now, there is a proposal to require states that receive federal money for transportation to assess the
carbon pollution, which contributes to climate change, that transportation plans may generate and
seek ways to reduce it. They also will have to consider the impact of transportation on air quality
as part of their long-range plans.
Do you agree or disagree that state transportation agencies should take vehicle-related carbon
pollution and climate change into account when developing transportation plans, and also seek
ways to reduce that pollution?
Total
(A)
(n=1,012)
01 AGREE 78%
02 DISAGREE 19%
99 DON’T KNOW/
REFUSED
3%
302016 ORC International Proprietary & Confidential
AIR POLLUTION P JULY 21-24, 2016
N=500 LANDLINE/500 CELL PHONE 725308
1
P3 Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
‘Automakers should continue to improve fuel economy for all vehicle types.’
Total
(A)
(n=1,012)
01 AGREE 95%
02 DISAGREE 5%
99 DON’T KNOW/
REFUSED
<0.5%
P4 Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
‘The U.S. government should continue to increase fuel efficiency standards and enforce them.’
Total
(A)
(n=1,012)
01 AGREE 79%
02 DISAGREE 20%
99 DON’T KNOW/
REFUSED
2%