California and Orange County Rate Wildfire, Water and Climate Change Top Environmental Problems

Newport Beach | Photo: D Ramey Logan

After a year of extreme weather, two new surveys show wildfire, water supply and climate change the top environmental issues in Orange County and statewide. A statewide PPIC survey was conducted in June and the Orange County survey in August. Using different methods, they show similar results.

Both surveys asked respondents to name their top environmental issue. PPIC responses are top of mind and COAST responses are reactions to a randomized list. They both rated water supply, drought and wildfires in the top two positions with climate change and air pollution the next most important environmental issues.

The Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) poll with 1724 adults conducted from June 7–29 included several questions comparable to the county-wide COAST survey in Orange County two months later. COAST is an organization of Orange County fire agencies and conservation groups created to assist in prevention and mitigation of wildfires. The PPIC survey was conducted by telephone and the COAST survey, conducted by Ciruli Associates and YouGov from July 20 to August 27 with 1,000 Orange County residents, received responses from an online panel and email.