Eight in 10 state residents believe Earth is warming

LYNN – Eight in 10 Massachusetts residents are convinced global warming is a reality, according to a Stanford University national survey.The research by professor Jon Krosnick from the California-based university’s Woods Institute for the Environment, found that 84 percent of Massachusetts residents believe the Earth has been getting warmer gradually over the last 100 years and a large majority favor government action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.Krosnick and his team conducted in-depth polling in Massachusetts July 9-18. Mirroring the national survey, the statewide data collected in July shows that a large majority thinks that if the world has been warming, it has been due primarily or at least partly to “things people do” – with 80 percent in Massachusetts agreeing with this statement, compared to 75 percent nationally, Krosnick said.The Stanford survey was released only days after the Massachusetts Institute of Technology released a study suggesting Lynn officials have not paid close attention to global warming as they move forward with plans to redevelop the city’s waterfront.The new research also shows that a majority of Massachusetts residents think the U.S. government should take action to limit the amount of greenhouse gases emitted by businesses – with 77 percent of respondents from Massachusetts in agreement.Of those supporting such federal action, 77 percent of the respondents from Massachusetts thought this should start “right away.” Respondents also indicated a preference for political candidates who make public statements supporting action to combat climate change. Seventy-six percent of Massachusetts residents indicated they would vote for a proposed candidate who had given such a statement compared to 67 percent who would vote for one who had not.Most respondents said that implementing programs to reduce global warming in the future was unlikely to have a negative effect on their state economy or the national economy.