The Majority of Americans Think Global Warming Is Real

There was a poll.

On climate change, 69% of respondents said that they believe that "there is solid evidence that the average temperature on earth has been getting warmer over the past few decades," with 26% saying that they did not believe it, 2% volunteering that there is some or mixed evidence, and 3% saying that they didn't know or refusing to answer the question. Among those who believed that there is evidence (whether solid or mixed), 64% said that "[c]limate change is caused mostly by human activity such as burning fossil fuels" came closest to their view, while 32% preferred "[c]limate change is caused mostly by natural patterns in the earth's environment" instead, and 4% said that they didn't know or refused to answer the question.

Unfortunately, that comes out to about 44% believing that climate change is anthropogenic.

Science education anyone?

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My first thought is that the results for that poll will vary with the season, and the severity of weather that season.

Sigh.

The next strong El Nino will see those numbers change dramatically. A few more years and the denial industry will vanish into the fringe.

By Vince Whirlwind (not verified) on 25 Sep 2011 #permalink

Most of the discussion around climate change is simplistic, and used as a means to prepare ground for absurdities like carbon trading, geo-engineering, or some scheme thought up by speculators, or lab folks.

I think its really bad for those who do not believe climate changes exist. There is scientific evidence backing up climate change, and I think that people should be more aware..there should at least be more than 75% who believe in climate change. If we reach that point of awareness, the better off our world is when it comes to solutions to slowing down the rate of climate change.