Demographics

Party Affiliation

Gender
Likely November Voters
48%
52%

Men
Women

42%
57%

18-49
50+

Income
$0 - $50K
13%

31%

21%

$50K - $100K
$100K +

35%

25%

Men
Women
Democrats
Independent/Other
Republican

Age

Refused

*Percentages have been rounded and may not equal 100%

Democrats

600
48%
52%

33%

Independent/Other
42%

33%
42%
25%

Republican

Education
3%

18-49
50+

42%
57%

Non-Coll Degree
Coll+
Declined/NA/Refused

41%
56%
3%

$0 - $50K
$50K - $100K
$100K +
Refused

31%
35%
21%
13%

Non-Coll Degree
41%
56%

Coll+
Declined/NA/Refused

June 26 29, 2016

Global Warming
Belief, Understanding &
Concern

Eight out of Ten Vermonters Think

Global Warming is Happening
Yes

No

DK/NA

100%
90%

81%

80%

70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%

15%
5%

10%
0%

All Registered Voters

Do you think global warming is happening?
Likely Voters 18+. June 2016.

Majorities of Vermonters across Gender, Age, Education & Income

Think Global Warming is Happening
- % who say "yes," global warming is happening -

100%

90%

80%

81%

80%

79%

90%

88%

82%

78%

82%

70%
70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0%

Men

Women

18-49

Do you think global warming is happening?

Likely Voters 18+. June 2016.

50+

Non-Coll

Coll +

$0 - $50K

$50K $100K

$100K +

Across Political Parties,

Majorities Think that Global Warming is Happening
Yes
100%

No

DK/NA

96%

90%

80%

80%
70%

61%

60%

50%
40%

30%

30%

15%

20%
10%

2%

2%

9%

5%

0%

Democrats
Do you think global warming is happening?
Likely Voters 18+. June 2016.

Independents/Other

Republicans

More than Six in Ten Vermonters Understand that

Global Warming is Primarily Human Caused
70%

By human activities

By natural changes in environment

Not happening

63%

60%

50%

40%

30%

26%

20%

10%

5%

0%

All Registered Voters

Assuming that global warming is happening, do you think it is: Caused mostly by human activities,
OR caused mostly by natural changes in the environment, OR none of the above, because it isn't
happening.
Likely Voters 18+. June 2016.

6%

DK/NA

Majorities of Vermonters across Gender, Age, Education & Income

Understand Global Warming is Primarily Human Caused.
- % who say "yes," global warming is happening 80%

67%

70%

60%

59%

71%
64%

62%

67%

64%

64%

$50K $100K

$100K +

52%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0%

Men

Women

18-49

50+

Non-Coll

Coll +

Assuming that global warming is happening, do you think it is: Caused mostly by human activities,
OR caused mostly by natural changes in the environment, OR none of the above, because it isn't
happening.
Likely Voters 18+. June 2016.

$0 - $50K

Majorities of Democrats and Independents Understand that

Global Warming is Primarily Human Caused
By human activities

100%
90%

By natural changes in environment

Not happening

DK/NA

86%

80%
70%

62%

60%

47%

50%

35%

40%

27%

30%

20%
10%

10%

1%

3%

4%

7%

13%
5%

0%

Democrats

Independents/Other

Assuming that global warming is happening, do you think it is: Caused mostly by human activities,
OR caused mostly by natural changes in the environment, OR none of the above, because it isn't
happening.
Likely Voters 18+. June 2016.

Republicans

Seven in Ten Vermonters are Worried about Global Warming

Very & Somewhat Worried

Not Very & Not At All Worried

DK/NA

80%

70%
70%

60%

50%

40%

30%
30%

20%

10%

0%
0%

All Registered Voters

How worried are you about global warming?

Likely Voters 18+. June 2016.

Majorities of Vermonters across Gender, Age, Education & Income are

Worried about Global Warming
- % who say they are very or somewhat worried about global warming 90%

75%

80%

70%

65%

70%

76%

71%

73%

77%
69%

62%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0%

Men

Women

18-49

How worried are you about global warming?

Likely Voters 18+. June 2016.

50+

Non-Coll

Coll +

$0 - $50K

$50K - $100

$100K +

Majorities of Democrats and Independents are

Worried about Global Warming
Very & Somewhat Worried
100%

Not Very & Not At All Worried

DK/NA

91%

90%
80%

72%

70%

60%

60%
50%

40%

40%

28%

30%
20%
10%

9%
0%

0%

0%

0%

Democrats
How worried are you about global warming?
Likely Voters 18+. June 2016.

Independents/Other

Republicans

Vermont vs. USA: Beliefs, Understanding and Worry about Global Warming

73%

Do You Think Global Warming is Happening? Percent who say "Yes."

81%
Assuming that global warming is happening, do you think it is: Caused mostly
by human activities, OR caused mostly by natural changes in the environment,
OR none of the above, because it isn't happening. Percent saying "caused
mostly by human activities.

56%

How worried are you about global warming? Percent who say "very worried" or
"somewhat worried."

56%

63%

71%
0%

10%

20%

30%

June 2016 Energy Independent Vermont survey compared to March 2016 Climate Change and the
American Mind, Yale Program on Climate Change Communication and George Mason University
Center for Climate Change Communication.

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

Support for Vermonts Goals

More Than Three Quarters of Vermonters Support

The State's 90% Renewable Energy Goal
Strongly & Somewhat Support

Strongly & Somewhat Oppose

DK/NA

90%

80%

78%

70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

18%

4%

10%

0%

All Registered Voters

Vermont has a goal getting 90% of its energy from renewable sources by the year 2050. Do you
support of oppose this goal for Vermont?
Likely Voters 18+. June 2016.

Majorities in All Parties Support Vermont's Renewable Energy Goal

Strongly & Somewhat Support
100%

Strongly & Somewhat Oppose

DK/NA

95%

90%
80%

72%

66%

70%
60%
50%
40%

29%

30%

22%

20%
10%

4%

1%

6%

5%

0%

Democrats

Independents/Other

Vermont has a goal getting 90% of its energy from renewable sources by the year 2050. Do you
support of oppose this goal for Vermont?
Likely Voters 18+. June 2016.

Republicans

Three Quarters Support Vermont's Goal of Reducing Greenhouse Gas

Emissions by at Least 80%
80%

Strongly & Somewhat Support

75%

Somewhat & Strongly Oppose

DK/NA

70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%
20%

10%

4%

0%

All Registered Voters

Vermont has a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the pollution causing global warming,
to 80 to 95% below current levels by the year 2050. Do you support of oppose this goal for
Vermont?
Likely Voters 18+. June 2016.

Majorities in All Parties Support the State's

Greenhouse Gas Reduction Goal
Strongly & Somewhat Support
100%

Somewhat & Strongly Oppose

DK/NA

96%

90%
80%

70%

70%

58%

60%
50%

33%

40%

26%

30%
20%
10%

4%

1%

9%

4%

0%

Democrats

Independents/Other

Vermont has a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the pollution causing global warming, to
80 to 95% below current levels by the year 2050. Do you support of oppose this goal for Vermont?
Likely Voters 18+. June 2016.

Republicans

Support for Global Warming

Solutions

By More Than 2-to-1, Vermonters Are More Likely to Support Candidates

Who Make Clean Energy Central to Their Campaign
More & Much More Likely

Somewhat & Much Less Likely

No Difference

70%

60%

59%

50%

40%

30%

26%

20%

10%

9%

0%

All Registered Voters

Suppose that a candidate for Governor of Vermont made reducing greenhouse gas emissions, promoting energy
efficiency, and expanding use of renewable energy a top priority of their campaign - would that make you more
or less likely to vote for them?
Likely Vermont Voters 18+. June 2016.

6%

DK/NA

By a 2-to-1 Margin, Vermonters Support a Carbon Pollution Tax

Coupled with Investments in Clean Energy and
Tax Cuts for all Vermonters and Vermont Businesses
Strongly & Somewhat Support
70%

Somewhat & Strongly Oppose

DK/NA

63%

60%

50%

40%

31%
30%

20%

6%

10%

0%

All Registered Voters

This Energy Independence proposal would do the following: Establish a statewide Energy Independence Fund to help Vermonters reduce
their home heating and transportation costs and weatherize public buildings, like schools; Finance the Energy Independence Fund with a
carbon pollution tax paid by the companies that import oil, gas, or other fossil fuels into Vermont. It would not apply to electricity; Cut
state taxes for all Vermonters and Vermont businesses, with additional rebates for low-income Vermonters, so that we are protected
from fossil fuel companies passing on their costs. Does this sound like something you would support or oppose?
Likely Voters 18+. June 2016.

Key Findings
Vermonters believe global warming is happening, understand that it is
human caused, and they are worried.
Vermonters support the States renewable energy and greenhouse gas
reduction goals and action to achieve those goals, including a carbon
pollution tax thats paired with tax cuts and investments in efficiency.
By a 2-to-1 margin, Vermonters are more likely to vote for a candidate who
makes support for clean energy central to their campaign.

Races for the Democratic and

Republican Nominations for
Governor of Vermont

In the Races for the Republican and Democratic Nominations for Governor,
One Race is Within the Margin of Error, the Other is Not
Republican Primary

Democratic Primary

80%

68%

70%

35%

31%

30%

60%

25%

25%

50%

20%

40%

30%

36%

40%

15%

23%

8%

10%

20%

9%

10%

5%
0%

0%

Dunne

Lisman

Scott

Minter

Galbraith

Other/DK/NA

Other/DK/NA

If the Republican primary election for Governor were today, for

whom would you vote: Phil Scott or Bruce Lisman? (n = 171; MOE
= 7.5%)

If the Democratic primary election for Governor were today, for

whom would you vote: Matt Dunne, Peter Galbraith, or Sue
Minter? (n = 217; MOE = 6.7%)

Tom Hughes
Energy Independent Vermont
thughes@EnergyIndependentVT.org
(802) 2235221 x 22