Perhaps one may attribute the drop in interest to a few factors. For instance, when big news becomes old news it is no longer exciting. Also, negative reporting tends to underscore climate change as overreaction. With this, the idea that scientists are onto it gives the average citizen the idea that it is in better hands than themselves. On top of this, the factors mentioned in the report. Also keep in mind that the average person does not feel competent enough to support his ideas in a circle of far more able scientists and the chance of feeling rediculous or rejected may be rather daunting. Only those audacious enough to stick their neck out at the risk of sounding foolish for the greater good would do so. Hopefully I speak on behalf of some of those that are a little more conservative. Steven Parkes
On Nov 28, 4:36 pm, David Schnare <[email protected]> wrote: > A few of us have been noticing a trend over the past 3 years that has > accelerated in the past four months, and it highlights the moral > hazard of being against geoengineering. In essence, by rejecting > doing full scale research on means to cool the planet and air strip > carbon on a planetary scale, we multiply the speed with which the > planet will warm due to the human unwillingness to take the steps > necessary to reduce carbon emissions. Note, I am not talking about > political decisions by governments, but the far more important > attitude of the body politic. Here's the most recent report: > > Efforts to support global climate-change falls: Poll > Peter O'Neil, Europe Correspondent, Canwest News Service > Published: Thursday, November 27, 2008 > PARIS - There is both growing public reluctance to make personal > sacrifices and a distinct lack of enthusiasm for the major > international efforts now underway to battle climate change, according > to findings of a poll of 12,000 citizens in 11 countries, including > Canada. > > Results of the poll were released this week in advance of the start of > a major international conference in Poland where delegates are > considering steps toward a new international climate-change treaty to > replace the Kyoto Protocol, which expires in 2012. > > There already are reports emerging that some countries, such as coal- > dependent Poland, are pushing for special treatment to avoid making > major commitments to slash carbon emissions during a global economic > downturn. > > A file photo showd snow cannons blasting artificial snow on a slope in > Kitzbuehel, Austria. Due to the uncommonly warm weather many European > alpine ski resorts have no snow. > > Less than half of those surveyed, or 47 per cent, said they were > prepared to make personal lifestyle changes to reduce carbon > emissions, down from 58 per cent last year. > > Only 37 per cent said they were willing to spend "extra time" on the > effort, an eight-point drop. > > And only one in five respondents - or 20 per cent - said they'd spend > extra money to reduce climate change. That's down from 28 per cent a > year ago. > > The Canadian results, from a poll of 1,000 respondents conducted in > September, were virtually identical to the overall figures. There are > no comparative figures for Canada because Canadians weren't included > in the global study in 2007. > > The 11 countries surveyed were Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, > France, Germany, India, Malaysia, Mexico, the United Kingdom and the > United States. There were 2,000 respondents surveyed in China, > including 1,000 in Hong Kong. > > The survey was conducted as part of a joint collaboration between the > financial institution HSBC and environmental groups, such as the > Earthwatch Institute. > > "There's consumer reluctance that's creeping in, and we've seen that > some are being stunned into inaction by the enormity of the task," > said Earthwatch executive vice-president Nigel Winser. > > Results of the poll suggested that 55 per cent of respondents in the > 11 countries said their governments should be doing more by investing > in renewable energy sources, such as wind, solar and wave power. > > That's more than double the 27 per cent who wanted their governments > to participate in Kyoto-style international agreements to reduce > emissions. > > In Canada, the same portion favoured renewable-energy options, while > 32 per cent supported collective international efforts. > > "People believe governments are focusing too much attention on > indirect actions that pass responsibility for climate change onto > others, such as increasing taxes on fossil fuels, encouraging > individual environmentally friendly activities and participating in > international negotiations, such as the Kyoto Protocol," the report > said. > > "More needs to be done to inform consumers about measures such as > green taxation or carbon trading to help them understand how tangible > these can be." > > The poll helps explain why outgoing Liberal Leader Stephane Dion had > so much difficulty during the election campaign trying to sell his > Green Shift platform that proposed a carbon tax in order to encourage > emission reductions. > > Earthwatch's Winser said the silver lining in the poll was that it > stresses public dissatisfaction with the performance of all > governments. > > "We welcome this survey because it shows that individuals want their > governments to do more." > > HSBC was unable to provide the poll's margin of error. > > © Canwest News Service 2008 --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "geoengineering" group. 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