TRENTON, NJ – New Jersey is in the grip of a climate change revolution that includes shutting down coal and nuclear power plants and replacing them with offshore windmills. Looming for residents of the Garden State is the prospect of being forced to drive electric vehicles, use electric stoves and convert their homes to electric heat, and it’s all being done in the name of ‘climate science’.
The problem for New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and others who believe junking your gas clunker for a new EV will save the world is that most people don’t believe the climate scientists driving this movement truly know what they’re talking about.
Public confidence in climate scientists’ understanding of climate change has diminished, a Pew Research Center survey reveals. The percentage of Americans who believe climate scientists grasp the occurrence of climate change very well dropped from 37% to 32% since 2021.
Americans’ assurance in climate scientists’ comprehension of climate change causes fell slightly from 28% in 2021 to 24% currently. Those who think scientists understand well how to address climate change stand at 13%, a decrease from 18% two years ago.
Despite a consensus among scientists regarding human-induced climate change, skepticism persists among the public. The Center’s in-depth interviews sought insights from adults skeptical about the urgency of climate change and doubtful of human activity as its main driver.
Political affiliation significantly influences perceptions of climate science expertise. Fifty-two percent of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents trust climate scientists’ knowledge about climate change existence, whereas 51% of Republicans and Republican leaners express little or no confidence.
The gap widens regarding understanding climate change’s impact on extreme weather, with 40% of Democrats affirming scientists’ deep understanding compared to 10% of Republicans. On causes of climate change, 41% of Democrats versus 7% of Republicans trust climate scientists’ expertise.
Regarding climate change mitigation, 23% of Democrats believe scientists have a solid understanding, opposed to 4% of Republicans. Seventy-one percent of Republicans feel scientists have little to no grasp of effective solutions, compared with 24% of Democrats.
Educational attainment also correlates with confidence levels in climate science, but only among Democrats. Seventy-two percent with postgraduate degrees believe in scientists’ understanding of climate change occurrence, versus 36% of Democrats with a high school education or less. Republican views remain consistently low across educational levels.
Opinions on climate scientists’ influence in policy-making also divide Americans. Half say scientists have too little influence, a decrease from 2021. Twenty-six percent believe they have too much, and 22% feel the level is appropriate.
Democrats overwhelmingly feel scientists should have more policy influence, while Republicans are split, with 49% thinking scientists are too influential. Among Republicans, conservative members are twice as likely as their moderate counterparts to assert that scientists exert excessive influence on policy debates.