The Punxsutawney Spirit

Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in US more likely to believe in climate change: AP-NORC poll

- By Terry Tang and Linley Sanders

As i a n Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders in the United States are more likely than the overall adult population to believe in humancause­d climate change, according to a new poll. It also suggests that partisansh­ip may not have as much of an impact on this group's environmen­tal views, compared to Americans overall.

A recent poll from AAPI Data and The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research finds 84% of AAPI adults agree climate change exists. In comparison, 74% of U.S. adults hold the same sentiment. And threequart­ers of AAPI adults who accept climate change is real attribute it entirely or mostly to human activity. Among the general U.S. adult population surveyed in an AP-NORC poll in September, only 61% say humans are causing it.

The poll is part of an ongoing project exploring the views of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, whose views can usually not be highlighte­d in other surveys because of small sample sizes and lack of linguistic representa­tion.

Scientists overwhelmi­ngly agree that heattrappi­ng gases released from the combustion of fossil fuels are pushing up global temperatur­es, upending weather patterns and endangerin­g animal species. Many scientific organizati­ons have made public statements on the issue.

In terms of partisansh­ip, the percentage of AAPI Democrats, 84%, who acknowledg­e climate change falls exactly in line with the share of Democrats overall in the September poll.

The share of AAPI Republican­s who believe there is a climate crisis is lower, but they somewhat outnumber Republican­s in general, 68% versus 49%.

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