An important new poll is out showing most Americans believe in Climate Change and they think the government needs to be doing more to address the problem.
Temperatures climbing, weather more unstable, a majority says in poll
By Juliet Eilperin and Peyton M. Craighill
Most Americans say they believe temperatures around the world are going up and that weather patterns have become more unstable in the past few years, according to a new poll from The Washington Post and Stanford University.
But they also see future warming as something that can be addressed, and majorities want government action across a range of policies to curb energy consumption, with more support for tax breaks than government mandates.
This poll comes on the heels of the report from N.O.OA.A. scientists linkung extreme weather to man-made climate change, as my post from Tuesday discussed:
NOAA Scientists' report links Extreme Weather to MAN-MADE Climate Change.
More from the new poll about what Americans think should be done about Climate Change.
In terms of what can be done about it, about 55 percent say a “great deal” or “good amount” can be done to reduce future global warming. At the same time, 60 percent of those polled say it will be extremely or very difficult for people to stop it.
Americans are leery of broad-based tax increases to address the problem. More than 70 percent oppose policies that would rely on tax increases on electricity or gas to change individual behavior, while 66 percent favor tax breaks to curb greenhouse gas emissions. Fewer, 20 percent, want the government to stay out of regulating greenhouse gases altogether.
Americans still aren't receptive to one of the most effective and rapid ways to reduce Green House Gas emissions a Carbon Tax. But most Americans are clamming for more government action to address the issue.
27. As you may have heard, greenhouse gases are thought to cause global warming. In your opinion doyou think the government should or should not limit the amount of greenhouse gasses that U.S. businesses put out?
6/21/2012
Government should limit 77
Government should not limit 20
Don’t know/Refused 3
Washington Post‐Stanford University poll pdf
Some of our more timid Democrats need to see this poll. Maybe you could send it to your congress person with a demand for stronger action.
The same day this poll came out the USDA declared the largest disaster in U.S. history in 1,000 counties stricken by severe drought. Some Extreme Weather indeed.
Largest natural disaster in U.S. history declared today
Today the United States declared a natural disaster in more than 1,000 drought-stricken counties in 26 states.
The declaration from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), includes most of the south-west, which has been scorched by wildfires, parts of the midwestern corn belt, and the south-east.
Farmers in the stricken regions are just now starting to asses the damage to their crops but we can expect sharp increases in food prices coming our way as a result of the severe drought.
Denial has lost its credibility, and Americans are ready for their government to take on the problem in a big way. Our Congress needs to get this poll's message and start taking this urgent problem seriously.
We can't afford to avert our eyes any longer.
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