Image of Green Mountains from Killington Peak, looking into the Otter Creek Basin. Photo: James Snook
Rutland Region Analysis
By James D. Snook
Analysis of Rutland, Vermont on the Yale Climate Opinion Maps 2020
Each of the 30 questions on the Yale Climate Opinion Map were answered and gathered for Vermont (state and congressional district), Rutland City (metro area), and Rutland County, Vermont (counties). The results for all of the 30 questions are provided below, plus a technical analysis and recommendations as a potential response to the data.
How does Rutland’s climate opinion compare to 2020 US public opinion?
The Yale Climate Opinion Maps also include 30 questions that can be compared to national, state, county level, congressional districts and metro areas.
What are your beliefs? 4 Questions
What are your risk perceptions? 7 Questions
What is your opinion on policy support? 17 Questions
What are your behaviors? 2 Questions
Beliefs: Results for Rutland, Vermont
Question #1: Vermont 73% (+1), Rutland City 69% (-3), Rutland County 69% (-3)
Question #2: Vermont 59% (+2), Rutland City 55% (-2), Rutland County 55% (-2)
Question #3: Vermont 60% (+5), Rutland City 53% (-2), Rutland County 53% (-2)
Question #4: Vermont 69% (+5), Rutland City 65% (+1), Rutland County 65% (+1)
Analysis: In this survey poll on beliefs, there is a significant difference between the Rutland Region opinion and the Vermont opinion. Vermonters responded that scientists have determined that global warming is happening and is affecting the weather, above the national average by up to 5% points. However, Rutland results are up to -3% points below average for the first 3 questions, however Rutland’s +1 response in question #4 acknowledges the effect on the weather. This result indicates the opportunity for additional sustainability education the Rutland Region, especially regarding the scientific consensus regarding the human cause for accelerated climate change.
Risk Perceptions: Results for Rutland, Vermont
Question #1: Vermont 65% (+2), Rutland City 61% (-2), Rutland County 61% (-2)
Question #2: Vermont 74% (+3), Rutland City 71% (+0), Rutland County 71% (+0)
Question #3: Vermont 75% (+4), Rutland City 72% (+1), Rutland County 72% (+1)
Question #4: Vermont 68% (+3), Rutland City 63% (-2), Rutland County 63% (-2)
Question #5: Vermont 62% (+1), Rutland City 59% (-2), Rutland County 59% (-2)
Question #6: Vermont 41% (-2), Rutland City 37% (-6), Rutland County 37% (-6)
Question #7: Vermont 57% (+1), Rutland City 54% (-2), Rutland County 54% (-2)
Analysis: In this survey poll on risk perceptions, Vermonters are consistently above the US average by up to 4% points. Once again, there is a significant difference between the Rutland Region opinion and the Vermont opinion. Rutland results are -2% points for 4 out of 7 questions that are focused on risk toward humans of this generation. Rutland responded -6% points below US average in regards to whether global warming would harm them personally. Rutland showed a higher average of up to +1 when worried about risk to plants, animals, and future generations.
This result indicates the opportunity for increased attention to watershed protection, ecological restoration, sustainability efforts, and climate change resiliency planning in the Rutland Region.
Policy Support (Part 1): Results for Rutland, Vermont
Question #1: Vermont 88% (+2), Rutland City 87% (+1), Rutland County 87% (+1)
Question #2: Vermont 78% (+3), Rutland City 76% (+1), Rutland County 76% (+1)
Question #3: Vermont 71% (+3), Rutland City 67% (-1), Rutland County 67% (-1)
Question #4: Vermont 69% (+1), Rutland City 68% (+0), Rutland County 68% (+0)
Question #5: Vermont 70% (+5), Rutland City 66% (+1), Rutland County 66% (+1)
Question #6: Vermont 85% (+3), Rutland City 84% (+2), Rutland County 84% (+2)
Question #7: Vermont 30% (-2), Rutland City 33% (+1), Rutland County 33% (+1)
Question #8: Vermont 50% (-2), Rutland City 53% (+1), Rutland County 53% (+1)
Question #9: Vermont 77% (-1), Rutland City 76% (-2), Rutland County 76% (-2)
Question #10: Vermont 73% (+3), Rutland City 71% (+1), Rutland County 71% (+1)
Question #11: Vermont 62% (+2), Rutland City 59% (-1), Rutland County 59% (-1)
Policy Support (Part 2): Results for Rutland, Vermont
Question #12: Vermont 62% (+2), Rutland City 59% (-1), Rutland County 59% (-1)
Question #13: Vermont 51% (-1), Rutland City 49% (-3), Rutland County 49% (-3)
Question #14: Vermont 52% (-2), Rutland City 50% (-4), Rutland County 50% (-4)
Question #15: Vermont 66% (+2), Rutland City 63% (-1), Rutland County 63% (-1)
Question #16: Vermont 52% (-0), Rutland City 46% (-6), Rutland County 46% (-6)
Question #17: Vermont 57% (+1), Rutland City 55% (-1), Rutland County 55% (-1)
Behaviors: Results for Rutland, Vermont
Question #1: Vermont 39% (+4), Rutland City 35% (+0), Rutland County 35% (+0)
Question #2: Vermont 30% (+5), Rutland City 27% (+2), Rutland County 27% (+2)
Analysis:
In this survey poll on policy support and behaviors, Vermonters are above the US average for most of the questions by up to 5% points. Once again, there is a difference between the Rutland Region opinion and the Vermont opinion, typically a 0 – 2 point difference lower for Rutland. The biggest difference between Vermont and Rutland (6% points) is in Question #16, which asks whether global warming should be a high priority for the next President and Congress. In the Behaviors questions, there is a 4% and 3% difference, indicating that Vermonters typically discuss and hear about global warming more than in the Rutland Region. These results indicate the opportunity for increased attention toward public engagement of sustainability education in the Rutland Region, in order to increase awareness, discussion, and partnerships.
References:
Yale University (2020). Yale Climate Opinion Maps 2020. Retrieved from https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/visualizations-data/ycom-us/