It is an article of faith among most journalists reporting on the environment that public attitudes changed dramatically over the last two years. A new poll by Gallup shows they haven't....
It is an article of faith among most journalists reporting on the environment that public attitudes changed dramatically over the last two years. A new poll by Gallup shows they haven't.
Here's the graph:
And here's Gallup's analysis:
Despite the enormous attention paid to global warming over the past several years, the average American is in some ways no more worried about it than in years past. Americans do appear to have become more likely to believe global warming's effects are already taking place and that it could represent a threat to their way of life during their lifetimes. But the American public is more worried about a series of other environmental concerns than about global warming, and there has been no consistent upward trend on worry about global warming going back for two decades. Additionally, only a little more than a third of Americans say that immediate, drastic action is needed in order to maintain life as we know it on the planet.
This is not surprising to me. It shouldn't be to you either because neither you nor I have personally felt the impact. Therefore, it's NOT REAL to us.
If it doesn't itch; should I scratch it anyway?
Posted by: Charles at April 21, 2008 8:11 PM