# Poll Results: The People Want a Climate Bill *Published:* 2010-01-21 *Author:* Sharyn Stein Climate and clean energy legislation got strong support today from an unlikely source — Frank Luntz, the prominent Republican pollster. Luntz’s firm, [The Word Doctors](http://www.theworddoctors.com/), just finished a national poll of more than 1,000 American voters. He unveiled the [results of that poll](http://www.edf.org/documents/10738_Language-of-a-Clean-Energy-Economy.pdf) \[PDF\] this morning at a news conference with EDF President Fred Krupp and NRG Energy’s CEO David Crane. **The bottom line: Americans are eager for Congress to act** on climate legislation that would promote energy independence and a healthier environment. Luntz says: > Americans want their leaders to act on climate change – but not necessarily for the reasons you think. A clear majority of Americans believe climate change is happening. This is true of McCain voters and Obama voters alike. > > And even those that don’t still believe it is essential for America to pursue policies that promote energy independence and a cleaner, healthier environment. (You can play the **audio of the entire event** at the bottom of this post.) Here are some of the most interesting results from the poll: - A **majority of Americans believe climate change is occurring** and is caused at least in part by humans. Only a small minority — 18 percent — do not believe climate change is real. (Those numbers stay about the same if you call it “global warming.”) - 57 percent agreed with the statement: It doesn’t matter if there is or isn’t climate change. **It is still in America’s best interest to develop new sources of energy** that are clean, reliable, efficient and safe. - National security is the main reason that people support cap and trade. Across the demographic board, people liked the idea that clean energy will: **liberate us from this oil addiction.** This is the latest in [a long line of polls](http://www.edf.org/article.cfm?contentID=10453) that show Americans want clean energy. But Luntz’s reputation as longtime Republican advisor may give this one extra political resonance. Luntz said **his data shows a bipartisan consensus** on the issue and provides a road map for getting legislation passed. EDF’s Fred Krupp summed it up: > Frank’s research proves that that no matter who Americans voted for in 2008, in 2010 they want to see Congress act on climate legislation. It’s a national security priority, it’s a crucial means to reduce pollution, and it’s essential to creating permanent American jobs. \[powerpress url=”http://www.edf.org/audio/krupp-conf-01212010.mp3″\]Complete audio recording of the news conference.