Tulsa World: Poll shows Oklahomans truly vary on climate change issues

By RANDY KREHBIEL World Staff Writer

Oklahomans' attitudes and opinions on climate change can be as hard to interpret as an occluded front in March.

Only 8 percent of the 495 surveyed in the latest Oklahoma Poll think human activity is solely responsible for any change in the Earth's climate.

But two-thirds think human activity may be partly responsible.

More than half say the record-breaking heat of the past 18 months has not changed their minds about climate change.

But more than a third says it has.

One interpretation might be that while Oklahomans are somewhat concerned about changing climate, they don't perceive it to be a crisis.

"My personal opinion is that weather is kind of cyclical," said Ken Price of Sapulpa. "We go through seasons where it seems unseasonably warm, and you go through times when it is unseasonably cool. I think it's part of the life cycle God created.

"We do need to be concerned about carbon emissions," said Price, "but I think media need to realize these things happen."

Price was not the only respondent to connect God to climate. Self-described evangelical Christians were more likely than nonevangelicals to view climate as beyond human influence.

"Our whole system has changed," said Hannah Miller, who lives in Delaware County. "I think it's part of what we're supposed to go through. Our world is getting worse and worse, and so is the weather and everything else around it."

Joyce O'Neal of Muldrow was more definite.

"I really think the end times are here," she said. "I'm an evangelical Pentecostal. I believe the end times are here and this is punishment on our nation for things we've done.

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About the poll

The poll of 495 likely voters was conducted by soonerpoll.com, using a random dialing technique that included both cell phone and landline telephone numbers. Likely voters are those who have established a frequent pattern of voting.

Interviewers collected the data by phone July 26-Aug. 14. Results were weighted by age, metropolitan statistical area, political party and phone status (cell phone only/landline only/both).

The margin of error is ±4.4 percentage points. This poll conforms to the standards of disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls. A complete description of the methodology can be found here.