A new PPIC poll on Californians’ environmental values highlights residents’ support for policies that curb global warming, but also shows a split between those who want action now versus those who urge waiting for the economy to improve.

In this tough economy, it’s clear that families care deeply about pocketbook issues. It’s also clear that dirty fossil fuel industries, like oil and coal, have spent millions to exploit those concerns in their attempts to derail progress towards clean energy solutions.

But our dependence on fossil fuels got us into this mess and any delay in creating clean energy solutions only guarantees more economic and environmental damage. Many reputable studies show that economic solutions to climate change, such as clean energy programs, provide more and better jobs.