Skagit Climate Science Consortium (SC 2 ) and Global Warming Polling in Skagit County. Key findings

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1 Skagit Climate Science Consortium (SC 2 ) and Global Warming Polling in Skagit County Key findings Carol Macilroy Skagit Council of Governments January 20, 2016

2 Today Brief background on SC 2 Skagit County Polling Results

3 SC 2 Skagit Climate Science Consortium 501 c(3) Nonprofit Mission Foster collaborative Skagit climate research Produce relevant climate science products Link people with scientists and scientific information

4 SC 2 Skagit Climate Science Consortium Members Come From: Western Washington University University of Washington Climate Impacts Group US Geological Survey, US Forest Service, Nat. Park Service NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service Seattle City Light Pacific Northwest National Labs (Battelle) Skagit River System Cooperative Swinomish Indian Tribal Community University of Notre Dame

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6 Global Warming: Knowledge and Attitudes in Skagit County, Washington KEY FINDINGS 2015

7 Presentation Structure Survey Partners and Purpose Survey Method Terminology: Global Warming / Climate Change Key Findings: Global Warming Perceptions Impacts in Skagit County Perceptions on Taking Action Information Sources and Needs SC 2 Communication and Engagement

8 Survey Partners Skagit Climate Science Consortium (SC 2 ) Yale Project for Climate Change Communications

9 Survey Purpose SC 2 : Work with a well-renowned public polling entity to understand Skagit County specifics related to: Overall perception of global warming Overall perceptions of risk Better focus of SC 2 information and efforts Yale: County validation for national model

10 Sample Surveyed County-wide survey of Skagit County residents 1,000 random digit dial telephone interviews Conducted in May 2015 Offered in Spanish Average interview length: 24 minutes Skagit County, Washington

11 Confidence Interval 95% Projectable at 95% confidence level to total Skagit County population Confidence level Confidence interval of +/- 3% margin of error Subgroups will have larger margin of error

12 Global Warming / Climate Change Long-term trend of a global rising temperature Changes in the climate resulting from a long-term trend of increasing average temperature Often used interchangeably in daily communication, technically slightly different. Global warming is the term Yale uses in surveys and it is the term used and heard most commonly by the public.

13 Key Findings Global Warming Perceptions Impacts in Skagit County Perceptions on Taking Action Information Sources and Needs

14 GLOBAL WARMING PERCEPTIONS: DETAILS 8 in 10 Skagit County residents think NATIONALLY: global warming is happening 2 in 3

15 GLOBAL WARMING PERCEPTIONS: DETAILS 6 in 10 Skagit County residents think NATIONALLY: global warming is mostly caused by 5 in10 human activity

16 GLOBAL WARMING PERCEPTIONS: DETAILS Over half of Skagit County residents understand most scientists think global 1 in 3 warming is happening NATIONALLY:

17 GLOBAL WARMING PERCEPTIONS: DETAILS Almost half of Skagit County residents think global warming is harming people in the U.S. now

18 GLOBAL WARMING PERCEPTIONS: DETAILS 68% of Skagit County residents think global warming will harm people in the US within 25 years Now In years

19 GLOBAL WARMING PERCEPTIONS: DETAILS 6 in 10 Skagit County residents are worried about global warming; 2 in 10 are very worried

20 Key Findings Global Warming Perceptions Impacts in Skagit County Perceptions on Taking Action Information Sources and Needs

21 IMPACTS IN SKAGIT COUNTY: DETAILS 65% Skagit County residents think global warming will harm Skagit County residents within 25 years 31% 34% 16% 13% They are being harmed now In 10 to 25 years In 50 to 100 years Never

22 IMPACTS IN SKAGIT COUNTY: DETAILS Many perceive severity of key impacts is increasing 48% 38% 37% 28% 28% 31% 21% 15%

23 IMPACTS IN SKAGIT COUNTY: DETAILS Skagit County residents See Personal Risk in Many Global Warming Impacts % who say very / somewhat likely to have personal impact

24 Key Findings Global Warming Perceptions Impacts in Skagit County Perceptions on Taking Action Information Sources and Needs

25 PERCEPTIONS ON TAKING ACTION 73% 35% of Skagit County residents feel it is very important and 38% feel it is moderately important to prepare Skagit County for the impacts from global warming Important to prepare

26 PERCEPTIONS ON TAKING ACTION The majority of Skagit County residents think these entities should do more to help Skagit County prepare for impacts from global warming: 66% 65% 60% 57-62% 57% Federal government State government Local government Nongovernmental organizations Local businesses

27 PERCEPTIONS ON TAKING ACTION 65% The majority of Skagit County residents think individuals in Skagit County (65%) should do more to prepare for the impacts from global warming Individuals should do more

28 Key Findings Global Warming Perceptions Impacts in Skagit County Perceptions on Taking Action Information Sources and Needs

29 INFORMATION SOURCES AND NEEDS: SUMMARY The majority of Skagit County residents get global warming information from: 67% 67% 59% Local TV news or radio National network news PBS 57% 51% 49% National cable news TV Local weathercasters Skagit Valley Herald Please tell me whether or not you ever get information about global warming from the following. First Base: Total Skagit Co. residents (n=1000).

30 INFORMATION SOURCES AND NEEDS: SUMMARY 9% of Skagit County residents get their global warming information from SC 2 Please tell me whether or not you ever get information about global warming from the following. First Base: Total Skagit Co. residents (n=1000).

31 INFORMATION SOURCES AND NEEDS 30% Need more information 30% of Skagit County residents say they need more information to protect themselves when they consider flooding, water supply, landslides and other natural issues

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33 SC 2 Communication and Engagement Efforts Website: Working with Skagit Valley Herald, KSVR Presentations, workshops and specific technical/scientific work with interested partners Creating better informational products such as infographics, photographs, videos

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35 Changing Water Resources South Cascade Glacier

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38 THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST! For more information, contact Carol MacIlroy at or