"The poll, conducted between Sept. 30 and Oct. 4, finds that 57 percent of respondents believe there is "solid evidence" that the Earth is warming, down from 71 percent in April 2008. The level was 77 percent in January 2007 and August 2006." How about belief in ocean acidification? -G CLIMATE: Fewer Americans believe in human-induced global warming -- poll (10/22/2009) Ben Geman, E&E senior reporter A declining percentage of Americans believe there is solid evidence that human activities, including burning fossil fuels, are causing global temperatures to rise, according to a newly released poll by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press. However, the poll shows that more respondents support carbon dioxide controls than oppose them. Asked if they back setting emissions limits and making companies pay for their emissions, even if it may mean higher energy prices, 50 percent said they were in favor and 39 percent said they were opposed. The poll, conducted between Sept. 30 and Oct. 4, finds that 57 percent of respondents believe there is "solid evidence" that the Earth is warming, down from 71 percent in April 2008. The level was 77 percent in January 2007 and August 2006. Thirty-six percent of the respondents believe warming is occurring because of human activity, down from 47 percent in April 2008. It was also 47 percent in the 2006 and 2007 surveys. The dominant view among climate scientists is that increased carbon dioxide emissions from burning fuels like coal and oil are causing global temperatures to rise. The poll shows that the declines in the percentage of people who see solid evidence of global warming have occurred across the political spectrum, although the partisan divide is significant. Among Democrats, 75 percent hold this view, down from 91 percent in 2006, 86 percent in 2007 and 83 percent last year. Among independents, the number is now 53 percent, a sharp drop from the 75 percent of independents who believed there is solid evidence of global warming last year and similar levels in 2006 and 2007. Thirty-five percent of Republicans see solid evidence of global warming, down from 49 percent last year, 62 percent in 2007 and 59 percent in 2006. The poll also finds that 35 percent view global warming as a "very serious problem," down from 44 percent in the April 2008 survey. The results come as President Obama and Democratic leaders in Congress are seeking to enact legislation that would establish a cap-and-trade program to sharply reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions over the next several decades. Pew found that 14 percent have heard "a lot" about a cap-and-trade policy, 30 percent have heard "a little" and a majority -- 55 percent -- have heard nothing about it. Pew surveyed 1,500 adults using cell phones and land lines. The survey had a 3 percent margin of error. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "geoengineering" group. To post to this group, send email to geoengineering@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to geoengineering+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/geoengineering?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
