The researchers indicate that the report shows that Latinos in the U.S. recognize the threat that climate change poses to the well-being of their families and the future of their community in this country and abroad, and want the leaders to solve it.

The survey showed that support for climate action among Latinos is broad and deep:

• Nationally, nine in 10 Latinos want the government to take action against the dangers of global warming and climate change.
• Eight in 10 Latinos want President Obama to curb the carbon pollution that causes climate change.
• Eighty-six percent of Latinos support setting limits on carbon pollution power plants discharge into the air to fight climate change.
• Broken out  by income, 91 percent of those making less than $20,000 a year say that it is important for our government to tackle global warming and climate change, and 86 percent of those with incomes over $80,000 hold this view.

The survey conducted for NRDC by Latino Decisions interviewed 805 Latinos in the U.S. from November 25 to December 4, 2013. The Latino Decisions poll explored how intense that support is and why. In comparable national surveys of policy attitudes of Latinos conducted by Latino Decisions, only immigration reform scored higher levels of intensity.

“Of the issues we’ve polled, the only other national issue Latinos feel more intensely about is immigration reform,” said Matt Barreto, co-founder of Latino Decisions and associate professor of political science at the University of Washington. “Action on climate change is a very high priority for Latinos—regardless of age, income, party affiliation or where they live. This is a clear message for public officials who want support from Latinos: protecting the environment is a top priority. If you want their support, taking action on climate change is an important place to start.”

The poll also helps reveal some of why Latinos put acting on climate change so high a priority.

o    83 percent find this statement convincing: Climate change is causing our communities here in the U.S. to face more dangerous and extreme weather.

o    83 percent say they find this statement convincing: Climate change is causing our communities in Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean to face more dangerous and extreme weather, who often have fewer resources to respond.

o    65 percent say they think about environmental concerns in terms of the entire world, rather than in terms of themselves, their family or their community.

o    86 percent are convinced that we have a moral duty to give our children a clean planet and that our ancestors worked and cared for the Earth, so we must continue their heritage and legacy by fighting climate change and protecting the environment.

Latinos are the fastest growing segment of the U.S. population and their participation in the American political process is expected to double by 2030. Today, in the United States there are 53 million Latinos; 17 percent of the country’s population. In another 50 years, census estimates say that the Latino population will rise to 129 million and comprise 31 percent of the country. In the 2012 elections, 12 million Latinos voted -- 10 percent of all voters -- and that participation is expected to double in about 15 years.

Source:  National Resources Defense Council as “Overwhelming Majority of Latinos Want Strong Presidential Action to Combat Climate Change, Poll Shows,” January 23, 2014