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GliderGuider

(21,088 posts)
16. OK, how about this: Americans Largely Unconcerned About Climate Change, Survey Finds
Tue Nov 3, 2015, 04:46 PM
Nov 2015
Americans Largely Unconcerned About Climate Change, Survey Finds

Most Americans know the climate is changing, but they say they are just not that worried about it, according to a new poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. And that is keeping the American public from demanding and getting the changes that are necessary to prevent global warming from reaching a crisis, according to climate and social scientists.

As top-level international negotiations to try to limit greenhouse gas emissions start later this month in Paris, the AP-NORC poll taken in mid-October shows about two out of three Americans accept global warming and the vast majority of those say human activities are at least part of the cause.

However, fewer than one in four Americans are extremely or very worried about it, according the poll of 1,058 people. About one out of three Americans are moderately worried and the highest percentage of those polled - 38 percent - were not too worried or not at all worried.

Despite high profile preaching by Pope Francis, only 36 percent of Americans see global warming as a moral issue and only a quarter of those asked see it as a fairness issue, according to the poll which has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.7 percentage points.

"The big deal is that climate has not been a voting issue of the American population," said Dana Fisher, director of the Program for Society and the Environment at the University of Maryland. "If the American population were left to lead on the issue of climate, it's just not going to happen."

NOW are we screwed?

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

It's locked in... haikugal Nov 2015 #1
Two degrees is optimistic Kelvin Mace Nov 2015 #2
In IPCC-speak, "There is at least a 66% chance that a 2C target is too optimistic." GliderGuider Nov 2015 #3
The science dfreakout was in the mid and late 80's Scootaloo Nov 2015 #6
I'd double that, based on paul ofnoclique Nov 2015 #20
Yes, and when that becomes widely acknowledged, I look forward to ... Jim__ Nov 2015 #4
Yep. GreenPartyVoter Nov 2015 #52
What do you mean “no one will admit” it? OKIsItJustMe Nov 2015 #5
Basically the IPCC, their emasculated scientists, the politicians and media of the world. GliderGuider Nov 2015 #10
The climate policy narrative for a dangerously warming world OKIsItJustMe Nov 2015 #11
Do you think that people are generally beginning to understand that >2C is now unavoidable? GliderGuider Nov 2015 #12
(Statistically speaking) “the people I know” make a poor sample OKIsItJustMe Nov 2015 #13
OK, how about this: Americans Largely Unconcerned About Climate Change, Survey Finds GliderGuider Nov 2015 #16
I think you've nailed it Boomer Nov 2015 #30
So did you. GliderGuider Nov 2015 #32
The actual report… OKIsItJustMe Nov 2015 #7
Aha, so *that* is the sound of inevitability phantom power Nov 2015 #8
fareed zakaria 2007 Mosby Nov 2015 #9
Ultimately this is a self-correcting problem pscot Nov 2015 #14
My standard answer to "What do we need to do to fix it?" is "Wait..." nt GliderGuider Nov 2015 #15
World can still stop globe from warming more than 2 C, experts tell UN mollyonthefeeds Nov 2015 #17
Considering China's been busted for consuming far more coal than they say they do . . hatrack Nov 2015 #23
Given China's coal consumption revelation, I think 2036 is optimistic NickB79 Nov 2015 #18
17%% more than they admitted... GliderGuider Nov 2015 #19
I don't think anyone actually knows LouisvilleDem Nov 2015 #21
Lying or deluded - or they are a politician. GliderGuider Nov 2015 #22
So let's just keep on fumbling and lying and dissembling, right? hatrack Nov 2015 #24
Sorry if reality bothers you... LouisvilleDem Nov 2015 #27
And we're already seeing massive, global climate impacts at "only" 0.8C so far NickB79 Nov 2015 #25
Here is the problem LouisvilleDem Nov 2015 #26
The only problem is that you intentionally ignore what researchers are telling us NickB79 Nov 2015 #28
I'm not intentionally ignoring anything LouisvilleDem Nov 2015 #40
No, you're really not are you? GliderGuider Nov 2015 #41
You misunderstand the nature of the dispute LouisvilleDem Nov 2015 #42
Why not just accept that as someone else's opinion? GliderGuider Nov 2015 #43
What makes you think I don't? LouisvilleDem Nov 2015 #45
Why do you care what other people think? GliderGuider Nov 2015 #46
You do care what other people think LouisvilleDem Nov 2015 #48
Keep telling yourself that. GliderGuider Nov 2015 #49
How about the Arctic ice sheet death spiral we all get to observe? NickB79 Nov 2015 #29
Sadly, it's not enough for most people Boomer Nov 2015 #31
I have made myself literally sick to my very core over the state sue4e3 Nov 2015 #33
For your own sake, practice detachment Boomer Nov 2015 #34
Good luck we'll both need it, Sincerely sue4e3 Nov 2015 #35
I would like to strongly support Boomer's suggestion about detachment. GliderGuider Nov 2015 #36
Thank you , but no belief system is going to make watching my children die easier sue4e3 Nov 2015 #37
You're welcome. GliderGuider Nov 2015 #38
Lowest maximum ice extent on record... LouisvilleDem Nov 2015 #39
What "most people" think is largely irrelevant given how little the average person knows of science NickB79 Nov 2015 #44
Question LouisvilleDem Nov 2015 #47
What impacts just humans isn't all that matters (at least, it shouldn't be to any sane person) NickB79 Nov 2015 #50
Let me guess LouisvilleDem Nov 2015 #51
Wow. No response to the science so you play the race, class and gender cards all at once? GliderGuider Nov 2015 #55
Yup LouisvilleDem Nov 2015 #56
Thank you! (n/t) Nihil Nov 2015 #54
this is completely confusing and deniers are taking advantage. SleeplessinSoCal Nov 2015 #53
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