Most Idahoans support Paris climate change pact, poll says

In Monday’s Idaho Politics Weekly newsletter, a poll shows most Idahoans want the U.S. to join the recent Paris climate control pact. However, they’re mixed on whether climate change could hurt the state’s financials or whether climate change causes extreme weather around the world.

Extreme weather like windy snow fall and drought have some experts pointing the finger at climate change. However, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says climate change can’t necessarily be linked with every single event.

A warming climate, though, can increase the odds of weather phenomena to happen. In their annual summary of global climate temperature, NOAA and NASA found 2015 to be the warmest year on-record.

Brady Phillips, public affairs specialist with NOAA, said the split results of the survey could be because people see climate change effects differently depending on where they live.

“Some people might be noticing a change in the flowering season in the spring, the length of a fire season, or the amount of days over a hundred degrees,” Phillips said.

John Thompson, director of public relations with the Idaho Farm Bureau, said farmers he works with see effects of climate change.

“Some crops like wheat and barley are maturing earlier than they have in the past,” Thompson said. “The date of the earliest killing frost in the fall seems to be later, too.”

The change, however, could lead to some benefits, according to Thompson.

“If you take away that risk of a hard frost from being in early September to let’s say mid-to-late October– then it takes the risk out of the equation,” he said.

Thompson said the farmers he works with say they don’t agree humans caused the climate change effects they see.

The polling company Dan Jones & Associates polled 604 adults from Dec. 17 to Dec. 29. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.99 percent.

Here’s a breakdown of the results:

If the U.S. accept and follow the agreement…

Idahoans: 69 percent say yes / 29 percent say no / 9 percent are undecided Republicans: 46 percent say yes / 43 percent say no Democrats: 93 percent say yes / 2 percent say no Political Independents: 66 percent say yes / 26 percent say no

How people felt climate change could hurt their financial lives…

Idahoans: 47 percent say it could / 48 percent don’t think so Republicans: 28percent say it could/ 67 percent don’t think so Democrats: 83 percent say it could / 17 percent don’t think so Political Independents: 50 percent say it could / 47 percent don’t think so

If they believe climate change is causing extreme weather around the world…

Idahoans: 52 percentsay yes / 42 percentsay no Republicans: 38 percent say yes / 57 percent say no Democrats: 88 percent say yes Political Independents: 55 percent say yes

You can find the poll here.