歐巴馬限制電廠碳排放 民調:跨黨派民眾均支持 | 環境資訊中心
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歐巴馬限制電廠碳排放 民調:跨黨派民眾均支持

2013年07月30日
摘譯2013年7月18日ENS美國華府報導,賴儀榛編譯,莫聞審校

一項全美調查顯示,大多數受訪的美國選民說,他們支持歐巴馬總統的新計畫,應對氣候變化和以降低美國的碳排放來保護民眾健康。

位於羅克斯伯勒的梅奧機組的廠房是座燃煤電廠,由北卡羅萊納州的Progress 能源公司所擁有。 (攝自斯科特·毛思迪)在7月的第一週,808名經登記的選民在非營利組織自然資源保護委員會進行投票,61%的受訪者支持政府的計畫,地區涵蓋全國各地;相對多數的39%的受訪者強烈支持該計畫;27%的選民反對,其中19%的人強烈反對,此民調係由兩家公司主導 - 常與民主黨合作的哈特民調,及常與共和黨合作的乞沙比克海灘諮詢公司。

調查發現,支持該計畫者,民主黨中有84%,而無黨派的中間選民有56%。民意調查機構意識到,共和黨人中,贊成環保署建立標準,以遏制發電廠的碳排放量者只有49%,連一半都不到。

歐巴馬於6月25日宣佈此計畫,指示環保署建立電廠的碳污染標準,以限制這類工廠排放的碳污染量。如今有明文限定煙灰、砷和汞能排放入美國的空氣和水的標準量。但尚無聯邦限制溫室二氧化碳氣體的排放量,雖然環保署在2009年決定,二氧化碳是一種污染物,會危害國民健康和福利。

結論是,美國約有1,500座電廠,每年釋放約2.4億多噸的碳污染到空氣中。

歐巴馬總統的計畫也將增加燃料效率標準,適用於新車輛,以及新的家用電器和新的建築。該計畫也將增加可再生能源,如風力和太陽能發電的投資。

哈特民調的高級副總裁傑伊·坎貝爾說:「重要的是,這不是單一代人或地區的問題 - 所有年齡層、國內每一地區的人都簽署贊同這一計畫。」、「 簡單地說,美國人想看到的事是訂定如何應對氣候變化,且設限電廠排放是重要的一步。」

2012年在皮克林污水處理廠開始運轉的水皮克林太陽能農場,用於處理和輸送水至賓夕法尼亞州東南部的50萬居民。 (照片由Conergy公司提供)「這一調查清楚地表明該在這問題上採取行動的氣勢。」坎貝爾18日在記者會中表示「因為有更多的公共衛生問題和極端天氣,人們會表達更加支持限制碳污染。如果我們一年後重新投票,我們將看到更高的支持率。」

「乞沙比克海灘」總裁羅伯特·卡彭特說:「民眾希望華府來解決氣候變化問題,包括共和黨人表示大力支持此計畫的各個組成部分。不採取行動的話,民眾是無法接受的。」

坎貝爾說,調查結果發現一個矛盾點,「有些曲解的想法認為環保署是惡棍......是個邪惡的機構。」「但這項顯示,49%的共和黨人說他們會支持環保署設定發電廠的碳排放標準──這和共和黨人對環保署什麼事都看不順眼的說法相違背。」

民眾對氣候變化的關注似乎有上升。2012年12月哈特民調顯示,31%的受訪者認為氣候變化是一個非常嚴重的問題,而現在有39%認為它是一個非常嚴重的問題。

環保團體NRDC氣候和清潔空氣活動總監彼得·奧特曼說:「美國人覺得有義務從氣候變化的破壞性影響下保護後代。美國人也壓倒性地支持歐巴馬總統的計畫,為氣候變化做些努力。」「最重要的是,他們強烈支持總統的這一項具常識性的解決方案,通《清淨空氣法》來淨化電廠的髒空氣。這些電廠目前無法來限制他們將危險的碳污染源傾倒入空氣中。一定要制止,我們的未來依賴它。」

受訪者還強烈支持歐巴馬6月25日提出的其他氣候變化解決方案:

  • 79%支持新車提高燃油效率標準。
  • 78%支持增加可再生能源方面的投資,比如風能,太陽能和水力發電。
  • 78%支持更強的家電和新建築物的能源效率標準。
  • 76%的人支持美國成為帶領角色,鼓勵如中國和印度等國家,做更大的努力,以遏制碳污染。
  • 75%的人支持強化社區對抗氣候變遷衝擊的能力,如在珊蒂颶風襲擊的地區創立新的防洪計畫,為中西部和西部的乾旱和野火的準備做計畫。

甚至當美國人聽到反對該計畫的爭論,對整個氣候行動計畫的支持仍然很高。

受訪者獲告知訊息如下

「這個計畫的支持者說,切斷碳污染以保持我們的空氣和水的清潔是必要的,保護孩子們的健康,並減少氣候變化的強大破壞性影響。歐巴馬總統的計畫是一個合理和全面的方法,當在點燃能源技術創新的火花和降低我們對外國石油的依賴時,這將有助於我們的經濟繼續成長和恢復。」

「這個計畫的反對者說,這將嚴重損害我們的經濟,只因為它還只是剛開始改善。該計畫將意味著更高的能源成本,使公司做生意時成本增加,並導致成千上萬的工作喪 失和較高的消費價格。所有這一切與氣候變化的影響並無關真正關連,因為污染大國如印度和中國對他們的電力公司的污染從不設限。」

即使在聽取雙方意見後,受訪者仍表示,他們支持總統的氣候計畫:59%的人支持計畫,其中包括84%的民主黨人,53%的無黨派和1/3的共和黨人。僅有32%的受訪者反對。

該民調的誤差幅度為 ±3.5%。

Poll: Majority Backs Obama Plan to Limit Carbon Emissions
WASHINGTON, DC, July 18, 2013 (ENS)

A majority of American voters polled in a nationwide survey say they support President Barack Obama’s new plan to address climate change and protect public health by cutting the amount of carbon emitted in the United States.

The poll of 808 registered voters was conducted for the nonprofit Natural Resources Defense Council in the first week of July by two firms – Hart Research, which often works with Democrats, and Chesapeake Beach Consulting, a firm that often works with Republicans.

A majority of 61 percent of respondents support the administration’s plan, and support is strong in all regions of the country. A plurality of 39 percent of respondents strongly support the plan.

Twenty-seven percent oppose it, including 19 percent who strongly oppose it.

The survey found that support for the plan among Democrats is 84 percent and 56 percent among independents.

Pollsters learned that among Republicans just under half, 49 percent, favor the EPA establishing standards to curb carbon emissions from power plants.

The plan that President Barack Obama announced on June 25 directs the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to establish carbon pollution standards for power plants to limit the amount of carbon pollution these plants can emit.

Today there are limits on soot, arsenic and mercury allowed into U.S. air and water. But there are no federal limits for emissions of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide although the EPA determined in 2009 that carbon dioxide is a pollutant that endangers public health and welfare.

As a consequence, some 1,500 power plants in the United States release about 2.4 billion tons of carbon pollution into the air each year.

President Obama’s plan also would increase fuel efficiency standards for new vehicles as well as set energy efficiency standards for new household appliances and new buildings. The plan also would increase investment in renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power.

“It’s important that this is not a generational or regional issue – people in all age groups and in every region of the country endorse this plan,” said Jay Campbell, senior vice president at Hart Research. “Simply put, Americans want to see something done to counteract climate change, and they say setting limits on power plant emissions is an important step.”

“This poll clearly demonstrates momentum for action on this issue,” Campbell told reporters on a telebriefing Thursday. “People are going to express even more support for limiting carbon pollution as there are more public health problems and extreme weather. If we repeat this poll a year from now, we would see even more support.”

Chesapeake Beach President Robert Carpenter said, “The public wants Washington to address the issue of climate change, including Republicans who indicate strong support for each of the individual components of the plan. Not taking action is not an option the public will accept.”

Campbell said the survey findings contradict “a strain of thought out there that EPA is a villain … an evil agency.”

“But this poll contradicts that,” said Campbell. “We see that 49 percent of Republicans say they would support the EPA setting standards on the carbon emissions of power plants. That belies the notion that Republicans loathe everything about the EPA.”

The public’s concern about climate change appears to be on the rise. A Hart Research poll last December showed 31 percent rated climate change as a very serious problem, while now 39 percent view it as a very serious problem.

“Across our country, Americans feel obligated to protect future generations from the damaging effects of climate change,” said Peter Altman, NRDC’s Climate and Clean Air Campaign Director.

“Americans also overwhelmingly support President Obama’s plan to do something about climate change now. Most importantly,” said Altman, “they stand strongly behind the President’s common sense solutions, led by using the Clean Air Act to clean up dirty power plants. These plants today face no limits on the dangerous carbon pollution they dump into the air. That must stop. Our future depends on it.”

Respondents also strongly support other climate change solutions outlined by the President on June 25th:

  • 79 support increasing fuel efficiency standards for new vehicles.
  • 78 percent support increasing investment in renewable energy sources such as wind, solar and hydroelectric power.
  • 78 percent support stronger energy efficiency standards for appliances and new buildings.
  • 76 percent support the United States taking a lead role in encouraging countries such as China and India to expand their efforts to curb carbon pollution.
  • 75 percent support strengthening communities against the effects of climate change, such as creating new flood reduction plans for areas hit by Hurricane Sandy, and drought and wildfire preparation plans for the Midwest and West.

Support for the entire climate action plan remains high even when Americans hear the main arguments for and against the plan.

Respondents were told:

“SUPPORTERS of this plan say that cutting carbon pollution is essential to keeping our air and water clean, protecting our kids’ health, and reducing the devastating effects of climate change. President Obama’s plan represents a reasonable and comprehensive approach that will help our economy to continue to grow and recover while sparking innovation in energy technology and cutting our dependence on foreign oil.

“OPPONENTS of this plan say it will seriously harm our economy just as it is starting to improve. This plan will mean higher energy costs, making it more expensive for companies to do business and leading to thousands of job losses and higher prices for consumers. All this without having any real impact on climate change, because big polluters such as India and China do not limit pollution from their power companies.”

Even after hearing both views, respondents still said they back the President’s climate plan: 59 percent support the plan, including 84 percent of Democrats, 53 percent of independents and one-third of Republicans. Just 32 percent oppose it.

The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percent.

※ 全文及圖片詳見:ENS