Poll: Belief there is global warming drops

WASHINGTON, Nov. 25 (UPI) -- The percentage of Americans believing global warming is occurring dropped from 80 percent to 72 percent in the last year, a Washington Post poll indicates.

The Washington Post-ABC News poll's findings released Wednesday also show 55 percent of respondents said they think the United States should curtail its carbon output.

The increased disbelief about climate change was driven largely by a shift among Republicans, the poll said. Since its peak about 3 1/2 years ago, credence in reports of climate change happening is down sharply among Republicans, 76 percent to 54 percent, and independents, 86 percent to 71 percent, the Post said. Belief that climate change was happening dipped from 92 percent to 86 percent among Democrats.

Still, the poll showed a majority of respondents, 53 percent to 42 percent, support legislation to cap emissions and trade pollution allowances.

The Washington Post-ABC News nationwide telephone poll was conducted Nov. 12-15 among a random sample of 1,001 adults. The margin of error is 3 percentage points.