CLIMATE FIGHT SLIPPING FROM U.S. FOCUS

Fewer Americans See Solid Evidence of Global Warming
October 22, 2009 (Pew Research Center for the People and the Press)

"There has been a sharp decline over the past year in the percentage of Americans who say there is solid evidence that global temperatures are rising. And fewer also see global warming as a very serious problem – 35% say that today, down from 44% in April 2008.

"The latest national survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, conducted Sept. 30-Oct. 4 among 1,500 adults reached on cell phones and landlines, finds that 57% think there is solid evidence that the average temperature on earth has been getting warmer over the past few decades. In April 2008, 71% said there was solid evidence of rising global temperatures."

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"Over the same period, there has been a comparable decline in the proportion of Americans who say global temperatures are rising as a result of human activity, such as burning fossil fuels. Just 36% say that currently, down from 47% last year.

"The decline in the belief in solid evidence of global warming has come across the political spectrum, but has been particularly pronounced among independents. Just 53% of independents now see solid evidence of global warming, compared with 75% who did so in April 2008. Republicans, who already were highly skeptical of the evidence of global warming, have become even more so: just 35% of Republicans now see solid evidence of rising global temperatures, down from 49% in 2008 and 62% in 2007. Fewer Democrats also express this view – 75% today compared with 83% last year…"

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"Opinions about global warming changed little between 2006 and 2008. In August 2006 and January 2007, 77% said there was solid evidence that the earth’s temperatures were increasing; that figure fell modestly to 71% in April of last year…[M]ost said it was largely caused by human activity, such as burning fossil fuels…Far smaller percentages – including just 18% in 2008 – said it was mostly caused because of natural environmental patterns…Currently, 57% say there is solid evidence of rising global temperatures…Fewer than four-in-ten (36%) now say global warming is mostly caused by human activity…[and] 16% say it is occurring mostly because of natural environmental patterns…

"A majority (65%) of the public continues to view global warming as a very (35%) or somewhat (30%) serious problem…Young people are now far more likely than older Americans to view global warming as a very serious problem…As expected, views about the seriousness of global warming are also related to whether people think there is solid evidence the earth is warming and whether it is human caused…In January 2009, global warming ranked at the bottom of the public’s list of policy priorities for the president and Congress this year. Only 30% of the public said it should be a top priority, down from 35% a year ago…Global warming is the lowest-rated priority for both independents and Republicans and ranks sixteenth for Democrats among 20 issues…"