More Americans Care About Climate, But Not Enough
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 02. 5.08
It would be nice to think that the environment and climate change were front of mind affecting how people vote today; too bad it is probably not. A previous poll we covered noted that while most Americans believe climate change is happening, they really don't care. This new study of 11,000 Americans comes up with a different result. But not much.
The "Center of Excellence in Climate Change Communication Research (CECCCR)" study found that only 62% of Americans considered global warming a serious danger, and even those who are worried about it aren't doing a whole lot about it. But the study raised some other questions that made us wonder about it.
USA today quotes Edward Maibach, senior author of the survey: "Clearly, there's a lot left to do in raising awareness," but then he continues to note that here is growing concern among behavior experts that "there has been too much fear-mongering and not enough emphasis on what people can do."
In the study, they say "Some commentators have questioned the wisdom of using “fear appeals” in communication about climate change. Their concern is that the media (and advocacy groups) have placed too much focus on the dangers of global warming and not enough focus on conveying hope and solutions."
The study also looks at the difference between Democrats and Republicans, and finds a big gulf in answers,
But also noted that Democrats are hypocrites- "While Democrats were performing more of the environmental actions, on average they were only performing less than one more behavior than Republicans (see Table 6). The only environmental activities that Democrats were much more likely to engage in were voting for candidates based on their environmental records and donating to environmental organizations – actions that were fairly unusual in the population, even among Democrats. On other more common activities, such as conserving energy at home and recycling, the political groups were indistinguishable."
Interestingly, they surveyed a thousand kids and found that they were far more concerned about the environment than their parents.
"Given the strong affection children demonstrate for animals, and the widespread media images of drowning polar bears, we think it likely that influence is flowing in both directions: children arousing their parents’ concern and action, as well as the reverse. It is, after all, a world these children will inherit. Their high level of concern, and their confidence that global warming can be successfully addressed, pose a challenge and a responsibility that we adults must accept and assume." Read Report here
Is the survey trustworthy? It was prepared by the Center of Excellence in Climate Change Communication Research (CECCCR), "the nation's first research center devoted exclusively to addressing the communication challenges associated with global climate change"
which happens to be at George Mason University, home of over 40 right wing think tanks. Good old S. Robert Lichter of the Center for Media and Public Affairs is on the advisory board; he also is President of Stats, which we have called a front designed to confuse the public about science, operated by an extremist conservative "think tank."
So I am less disheartened by a study that suggests that the press is fear-mongering, that democrats are hypocrites or that kids are being brainwashed with polar bear pictures. I just look at the source and write off the whole thing. ::USA Today
Ha!
This is so obviously a "push poll" designed to buffer the right from public anger , prevent a Democratic landslide in fall elections, and keep wealth wingnuts donating to the Mason causes.
First off, no philanthropic organization or person in their right mind would give a bunch of money to a polling organization dedicated to such a narrow issue. (Job protection for Think Tank experts.)
These guys can't get any more traction on the science of course (Thanks Al).
And, there's no public argument yet about cost benefit (because no serious investments have yet been proposed using public money, compared to say War in Iraq.)
So, all that's left for these spinners is to sow doubt and create uncertainty about public opinion.
Straw Dogs.
Actually, this poll is quite heartening. Even in the face of "a study that suggests that the press is fear-mongering, that democrats are hypocrites or that kids are being brainwashed with polar bear pictures", that same study still shows that the majority believes that global warming is a serious issue.
I haven't figured our where you get that we are having a problem with global warming. The hole in the ozone is there however depending on the time of the year it changes sizes. Even if we do increase the earths temperature rises 1 to 2 degrees what is wrong with that. With the ever increasing population farmers and ranchers are trying to produce enough agricultural commodities to feed the world. So I am telling you that to feed the world the increase in temperature produces a longer growing season which results in more production.
Our government has taken a course where large segments of life are kept away from the people in the form of secrecy nad national security, that We the People, in order to live in this Union, must act on a level of lie.
I have information on a meteor sighting made when I was a kid in the 1960's. It is at www.littlemeteorcircle.net.
Martin Sheen and others star in a film about Roswell. While, people as myself and Mr. Sheen are laughed at for their truths, our general populace is made to feel they've no reason to consider the environment in their lives. The public is laughed at.
I pray we will cross the thresholds to peace in eachother so we may begin making within beauty across the Earth.
Imagine all the work available if we chose Peace instead of arms. I pray for all the terrorists nations and I pray for our nation.
Gently,
John Hill
Any predictions when enough Americans are going to care in order to change our current environmental condition?
Farmer Boy-
One of the biggest issues is the changing of weather patterns. The Jet Stream is actually changing its position. As this happens, weather patterns shift and you might get a permanent drought in a formerly rainy area and rain in a dry area. As we've seen in the southeast this year, a single season of drought can seriously damage crop yields. Imagine a place like Africa where the changing weather patterns have caused the desertification of formerly tillable land. In most cases it takes decades to build up enough soil structure to reverse desertification, so even if arid areas start getting the rain that used to go to good farm land, they won't be useful for generations. Where I live in VT our farmers are seeing pests and parasites that used to live much farther to the south. While southern farms can handle these pests, we're ill equipped to deal with them and likewise for farmers in the southern US who are getting disease and harmful insects moving up from Central America.
America is currently "the world's bread basket", but as weather patterns shift and temperatures rise, Canada will become the best place to grow cereal grains.
If you are worried about feeding our ever expanding population you should be very worried about the effect global warming has on food production