Saturday, 16 August 2008

An American view of global warming and energy costs: new poll

An August 2008 ABC NEWS/PLANET GREEN/STANFORD poll on the environment and energy:

Overall, even with broad conservation efforts underway, 64 percent now rate “finding new energy sources” as more important than improving conservation – up 9 points since 2001. Previous polls have shown broadest support for alternative energy such as wind, solar and hydro power; today’s support for oil drilling, and lessened objection to nuclear power, indicate the level of concern raised by the current energy situation.....
Another element is global warming; with concern still running high –
albeit slightly down from a year ago – most Americans support a so-called cap-and-trade system intended to limit greenhouse gas emissions.
And two-thirds say the U.S. government should act on global warming even if other countries do less. Nearly three-quarters believe global warming can be reduced only if individuals make major changes in their lifestyles.
Fewer, though, 44 percent, think addressing the issue also will cause them financial hardship, and fewer still foresee “serious” hardship.
Many do see reason to act: Eight in 10 believe both that global warming is happening and that it poses a threat to future generations, and about six in 10 think it’s caused mainly by things people or businesses do.


Interestingly, the conservative climate change denialist 'industry' in the U.S. courtesy of Joseph Farar has a very different view in WorldNetDaily
last Thursday:

The latest
ABC News/Planet Green/Stanford University poll on "global warming" suggests more Americans are beginning to understand they are being manipulated by one of the biggest hoaxes in the history of the world.
Though one must read carefully between the lines of this survey conducted by three entities entirely committed to perpetuating the fraud, it's clear fewer Americans are buying in to the notion that the world is on the precipice of man-made, catastrophic climate change.

These competing views represent the continuing problem - how to bring the United States of America into the fold when it comes to tackling climate change.
The Australian Prime Minister needs to direct more energy into convincing the next U.S. president that continuing good international relations rely on the American response to climate change as much as any other factor.
Should the Democrats win the White House at the end of the year, in theory this task should be a little easier than in the past.

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