The Earthjustice & GreenLatinos 2015 Environmental Attitudes Survey poll shows Latinos see climate change as a consequence of human activity at higher percentages than other Americans. Almost two-thirds of Latinos, 66 percent, accept climate change as a result of human activities, as compared to 52 percent of general population, according to a 2014 survey by Yale and George Mason universities. Latinos are more moved by the science of climate change by a whopping 14 percent.
The poll found that Latinos reject the false claim that there has to be a tradeoff between protecting the environment and fostering economic growth. In the survey, six out of ten Latinos have confidence that enacting stronger environmental laws will improve economic growth and create new jobs. A substantial majority of Latinos, 59 percent, believe green energy and environmental reform is good for economic opportunity and job growth. Additionally, 72 percent of Latinos said they are somewhat tomuch more likely to support policies and candidates that seek to protect the environment. In direct correlation with these findings, Latinos also want to reward candidates and office-holders who address climate issues and reported feeling more favorably about officials who act on behalf of the environment.
The poll, conducted in June and July for Earthjustice and GreenLatinos, based in San Francisco, CA and Washington, D.C. respectively, shows that while 80 percent of Latinos say immigration reform is an important issue for the President and Congress to address, support for clean water and environmental policies enjoyed as much or more support with 90 percent of respondents in favor or strengthening the Clean Water Act. View here the full results.
Source: EarthJustice.org press release, National Poll Finds 78 Percent of Latinos Say They've Directly Experienced the Effects of Climate Change, August 18, 2015