“Global Warming Seen as a Major Problem Around the World”
Dec 7th, 2009 • Posted in: Research ReportThere is “less concern in the U.S., China, and Russia,” poll finds
From the Pew Research Center:
“When world leaders convene in Copenhagen, Denmark, next week to discuss climate change, they will be addressing a concern that, as the latest Pew Global Attitudes survey finds, is widely shared throughout much of the world. The survey … also reveals that majorities in 23 of 25 countries agree that protecting the environment should be given priority, even at the cost of slower economic growth and job losses. And many are willing to make sacrifices, such as having to pay higher prices, to address global warming.
“Concern about climate change is much less pervasive in the United States, China and Russia than among other leading nations. Just 44% in the U.S. and Russia, and even fewer in China (30%), consider global warming to be a very serious problem. By comparison, 68% in France, 65% in Japan, 61% in Spain and 60% in Germany say that is the case.
“Americans’ views of global warming divide along ideological lines — liberals are more than twice as likely as conservatives to say global warming is a very serious problem (66% vs. 30%). Surveys from 2008 and 2009 suggest that an ideological divide is also evident in Britain, where 66% of those on the political left rate global warming as very serious, compared with 42% of those on the right. A smaller ideological split exists in Germany, France and Spain.
“While there is agreement around the world that climate change is a serious problem, there is much less international consensus as to which country is most trusted to do the right thing on this issue. However, expectations for President Barack Obama’s approach to climate change are high. Majorities or pluralities in 21 of the 25 countries surveyed believe Obama will ‘get the U.S. to take significant measures to control global climate change.’ Expectations are especially high in Western Europe.
“Large majorities in every country surveyed believe that global warming is a serious problem, and majorities in 15 of the 25 countries say it is ‘very serious.’ By a wide margin, Brazilians are the most concerned about this issue….
“Anxiety about global warming is less pervasive among Israelis (48%), Kenyans (48%), Canadians (47%) and Indonesians (44%). Moreover, concern about global warming is low among the publics of some big polluters — including the U.S., Russia and China….
“Concern about changes in the global climate has increased in many countries since 2008 — including the three Middle Eastern countries of Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon….
“Not only are respondents in many countries expressing concern over the issue of global warming, but beliefs are widespread that sacrifices may need to be made to protect the environment. Majorities in 23 of 25 countries agree with the statement ‘Protecting the environment should be given priority, even if it causes slower economic growth and some loss of jobs.’…
In three nations that have enjoyed strong economic growth in recent years — India, China and Brazil — agreement on this issue is nearly universal. Roughly eight-in-ten in India (84%), China (82%) and Brazil (79%) agree with prioritizing the environment over rapid economic expansion…. ”
For the full press release from the Pew Research Center, Dec. 2, click here.
Print This Story
Email This Story
“There is agreement around the world that climate change is a serious problem.” Why is there agreement? Because a complacent and complicit press beats the drum with that false message. Climate change is a fact of earthly existence. It is caused primarily by the sun and the oceans. It has always been in flux. Man-caused climate change is an unprovable thesis, and to many thinkers, a fraud and hoax intended to accrete power to the state. Observation and common sense deny the proponents’ claims, The past decade was a cooling trend. If the earth’s climate is warming (fractionally), this is far more desirable than cooling. Better crops, longer life, more industry and progress benefiting the actual lives of earth’s inhabitants results from warmth. Proponents need to discard their pantheistic worship of Gaia, and realize that people must come first, with reasonable conservation. Destroying humanity for the sake of pantheism is foolhardy.