An overwhelming majority of voters — 62 percent — support the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) setting stricter standards on gasoline and tighter emissions standards for cars, SUVs and trucks, according to a new American Lung Association poll. [ALA]
This bipartisan telephone survey of 800 registered voters, conducted during January 13–16, 2013, finds that nearly two-thirds of voters surveyed across the country support strengthening standards that limit sulfur in gasoline and tighten the limits on tailpipe emissions from new vehicles. These revised standards would reduce pollution from cars, trucks and SUVs, would protect public health and would create jobs by encouraging innovation….
The majority of voters surveyed (53 percent) still favored setting stricter standards on gasoline, even after hearing opposing arguments that cars are already cleaner and allege that this proposal would cost families thousands of dollars, and would increase the cost of gas nine cents per gallon.
Key poll findings include:
- 69 percent of voters favor EPA generally updating standards with stricter limits on air pollution.
- A 2-to-1 majority (62 to 32 percent) support EPA setting stricter standards on gasoline and tightening limits on tailpipe emissions from new vehicles.
- Only 17 percent of voters believe EPA is exceeding its legal mandate to ensure air quality.
- By a 2-to-1 ratio, voters still view the EPA and the Clean Air Act very positively.
ALEC has planted its “Environmental Literacy Improvement Act,” which mandates a “balanced” teaching of climate science in K-12 classrooms, in the state legislatures of Oklahoma, Colorado, and Arizona. [DeSmogBlog]
A new study concludes that every day renewables are delayed in favor of consuming fossil fuels as one-time energy, there is a future loss of $8.8 billion to $9.3 billion to the economy. [Grist]
A new paper published in Climatic Change examines the increased frequency of record-breaking monthly temperature records over the past 130 years, and concludes these records are now five times more likely to occur due to global warming. [Skeptical Science]
Environmental activist Bill McKibben was recently invited to speak on the issue of climate change in an informal meeting of the Vermont House of Representatives. [WCAX]
A new microbead technology may make the next generation of solar cells much thinner and cheaper. [Clean Technia]
Toronto must overhaul its roads, sewers, storm drains, electrical grids, and overall infrastructure in order to adapt to climate change, according to a new study commissioned by the city. [The Star]
Under a new French law, display lights in shops must be turned off at 1am, and interior lights in offices and other non-residential buildings must be switched off an hour after the last employee leaves. [The Guardian]