Rasmussen Poll Finds 51% Say Major Lifestyle Changes Needed to Help Environment; 65% Say Americans Not Willing To the Changes

Most Americans see a need for major lifestyle cutbacks to help the environment, but even more don’t think that’s likely to happen, according to the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Among the findings:

• 51% of adults believe major lifestyle cutbacks are necessary in order to help the environment. Thirty-two percent (32%) disagree, with 16% more undecided. The number of adults who see this need is up from 49% in July and 42% in May of last year.

• 79% believe most Americans are more environmentally aware today than they were 25 years ago; 13% disagree.

• 65% say American won’t make the major cutbacks required. 17% say Americans would, and 18% are not sure.

• 40% say individuals are the ones chiefly responsible for making sure society is environmentally aware. One-in-four adults (26%) says the government bears this responsibility, while only 14% name the media. Another nine percent (9%) say special interest groups are most responsible for keeping the public informed on environmental issues.

• While women feel strongly that Americans need to make lifestyle cutbacks to help the environment, men are evenly divided on the question.

• Republicans and those not affiliated with either major political party are more likely than Democrats to say Americans are not willing to make major cutbacks.