Most congressional Republicans dispute that humans are having an effect on the climate.

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Poll: Conservatives alone in thinking climate change won't happen | WashingtonExaminer.com

Conservatives are the only group of the American public who don't think global warming will affect them during their lifetime, according to a Gallup poll released Wednesday.

Thirty-seven percent of conservatives said they would have to deal with climate change, compared with majorities of liberal Democrats (89 percent), moderate Democrats (78 percent), independents (66 percent) and moderate Republicans (64 percent).

The polling reflects a number of surveys that have documented the chasm between conservatives and others on climate change, which many scientists say is driven largely by burning greenhouse gas-emitting fossil fuels. For conservatives, global warming is often at or near the bottom of issues they're concerned with, while it ranks much higher for Democrats.

"Conservative Republicans not only decisively reject the notion that the effects of global warming will happen in this lifetime — a position in sharp contrast to all other political identities — but another 40 percent say global warming will never happen," the Gallup poll said.

Most congressional Republicans dispute that humans are having an effect on the climate. In the Senate, 15 Republicans said they believe humans are warming the planet, five of whom said man-made activity is having a "significant" effect on the climate. Many congressional Republicans who do believe humans are affecting the climate have been hesitant to embrace policies that would reduce greenhouse gas emissions because they believe such action would stunt the economy.

But GOP presidential hopefuls have varied on climate change.

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush said last week that he's "concerned" that the climate is changing, but echoed conservative sentiments that he also is worried about U.S. economic competitiveness. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who also is mulling a White House bid, has challenged his party to come up with a climate platform and couched his belief in action in biblical terms of being good stewards of the Earth.

At the other end of the spectrum, Tea Party favorite Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas has questioned whether the planet is warming, despite data showing that global temperatures are increasing.

The telephone poll of 6,154 adults was conducted in March as part of Gallup's annual environmental survey. It carried a 1 percent margin of error.

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