Only 1 in 10 Americans is a Global Warming Denier, Report Finds
by Timothy Hurst
Turn on the TV news tonight and in the (unlikely) event you see any coverage of global warming you are likely to come away with the belief that Americans are evenly divided about the issue and what we should do about it. But a fascinating new report by researchers at Yale University and George Mason University found that Americans are not evenly split on the issue. In fact, only 10 percent are in the camp that believes global warming is absolutely not happening and that human actions have no impact on global temperature change.
Published last month by the Yale Project on Climate Change Communication and the George Mason University Center for Climate Change Communication, the report (pdf) shows that Americans are far less polarized about global warming than is commonly believed. Among other things, the report also found strong support for government action to address global warming, including support for a revenue neutral carbon tax, regardless of political party preference.
Researchers found that a strong majority of Americans (72%) believe global warming should be a political priority and they want their elected officials to do something about it. An even stronger majority (92%) think that developing clean energy should be a political priority. The survey also showed a majority of Americans think that protecting the environment actually improves economic growth and creates jobs.
Tags: United States, global warming, skepticism
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Joan Denoo on -
Money spent on bombs, bullets and battles are better spent on schools, hospitals, roads, bridges ... well you know the list as well as I. Money spent on wars destroy people and places and cultures. Haven't we grown up enough to know the difference?
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Permalink Reply by Sarah Walton on -
Forgive me, Joan. I can't follow how this post is related to the article I posted, though you make good points...
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Permalink Reply by Joan Denoo on
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Sarah, you correctly state my post doesn't logically follow yours. Mark it up to my frustration. Evidence of climate change and global warming abound. Deniers don't come to their conclusions because of politics or economics, it is because facing the reality of change just cannot be tolerated. By living in denial, they not only do not prepare for the coming changing events, but they squander resources, human, money, and time, on destroying those who do not live up to some corporate notions of control. If they face global warming they have to make some changes in values and procedures and admit they have no control.
I am really sorry, Sarah. Mark my remark up to frustration fart.
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Permalink Reply by Sarah Walton on
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No worries! I figured there was a connection in there somewhere! :)
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Permalink Reply by annet on -
I was very happy to hear about this. It might have implications for theism levels too.
That many of us are surprised that only 10% are deniers is an indictment of the media. Mainstream media (on both sides but mostly fox) is to blame for our skewed perception of ourselves and each other. It is all truthy eye catching headlines and hyped up alarmism because it sells. -
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Permalink Reply by Ruth Anthony-Gardner on -
I agree with annet. This is an indictment of the media that our perception is so skewed. The issue of fear is tricky. True "If it bleeds it leads", and media hype alarmism. But climate denial is also driven by deep seated fear that capitalism will have to go and that the problem is just too horrible to even think about.
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Permalink Reply by Jason Spicer on -
The he-said/she-said that passes for journalism is pathetic. Journalists have come to believe that they are not in the business of accurately representing reality based on the most reliable information available. Instead, they think that giving "both sides" a voice is all they have to do, even thought that invariably gives the impression that all issues are roughly 50/50.
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Permalink Reply by Steph S. on -
The way the media put the information out there I would have thought differently.
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Permalink Reply by Sarah Walton on
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Indeedy. And the authors of the study note that. It's because conflict is easy to sell, so news companies create false dichotomies.
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