I suppose there are still some global warming skeptics [0] out there, but the average American appears to be pretty worried about the state of our planet.
According to a national opinion poll by the Earth Day Network [1], global warming [1] is a hot topic and most of us want leaders who will step up and address the issues.
The poll, conducted in late October just before the November elections, is naturally focused on politics. But it also tried to take the public's temperature about the earth's changing condition. The data [2] is being released as a three-part series. Here are some highlights so far:
- 46 percent said that it was "extremely important" that the candidates have an effective global warming plan.
- 58 percent believe global warming will have a “great to extreme” impact on their children’s future.
- 61 percent believe it is “very to extremely” important for their government leaders to require higher fuel efficiency standards in automobiles.
- Nearly half say it is that important for oil companies to be taxed for contributing to the problem.
- Two out of three respondents think it will adversely impact the U.S. economy in the coming decade.
In other words, people want to address the problems. A few years ago, the environment was barely a priority, but that appears to be changing as fast as the ice caps are melting [2].
Meanwhile, let's keep our fingers crossed that global warming will a central issue during the 2008 presidential elections. If people express their concerns now, it means that politicians will have to focus on the issue and establish a track record. And after a quick scan of the Earthday Network's sobering climate change fact sheet [3], it's clear that we need to get on this ASAP.
If awareness is one of steps we need before change can happen, this poll suggests that we're on the right track.