From a press release by George Mason University:
American Opinion Cools on Global Warming
FAIRFAX, Va., January 27, 2010—Public concern about global warming has dropped sharply since the fall of 2008, according to the results of a national survey released today by researchers at Yale and George Mason universities.
The survey found:
• Only 50 percent of Americans now say they are “somewhat” or “very worried” about global warming, a 13-point decrease.
• The percentage of Americans who think global warming is happening has declined 14 points, to 57 percent.
• The percentage of Americans who think global warming is caused mostly by human activities dropped 10 points, to 47 percent.
In line with these shifting beliefs, there has been an increase in the number of Americans who think global warming will never harm people in the United States or elsewhere or other species.
“Despite growing scientific evidence that global warming will have serious impacts worldwide, public opinion is moving in the opposite direction,” said Anthony Leiserowitz, director of the Yale Project on Climate Change. “Over the past year the United States has experienced rising unemployment, public frustration with Washington and a divisive health care debate, largely pushing climate change out of the news. Meanwhile, a set of emails stolen from climate scientists and used by critics to allege scientific misconduct may have contributed to an erosion of public trust in climate science.”
The survey also found lower public trust in a variety of institutions and leaders, including scientists. For example, Americans’ trust in the mainstream news media as a reliable source of information about global warming declined by 11 percentage points, television weather reporters by 10 points and scientists by 8 points. They also distrust leaders on both sides of the political fence. Sixty-five percent distrust Republicans Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sarah Palin as sources of information, while 53 percent distrust former Democratic Vice President Al Gore and 49 percent distrust President Barack Obama.
Finally, Americans who believe that most scientists think global warming is happening decreased 13 points, to 34 percent, while 40 percent of the public now believes there is a lot of disagreement among scientists over whether global warming is happening or not.
“The scientific evidence is clear that climate change is real, human-caused and a serious threat to communities across America,” said Edward Maibach, director of the Center for Climate Change Communication at George Mason University. “The erosion in both public concern and public trust about global warming should be a clarion call for people and organizations trying to educate the public about this important issue.”
The results come from a nationally representative survey of 1,001 American adults, age 18 and older. The sample was weighted to correspond with U.S. Census Bureau parameters. The margin of sampling error is plus or minus 3 percent, with 95 percent confidence. The survey was designed by researchers at Yale and George Mason Universities and conducted from December 23, 2009, to January 3, 2010 by Knowledge Networks using an online research panel of American adults.
A copy of the report can be downloaded from:
http://www.climatechangecommunication.org/images/files/CC_in_the_American_Mind_Jan_2010.pdf
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I know this has already been posted in the “Tips and Notes”, But things are moving so quickly now, I hope the repetition doesn’t upset anyone.
The BBC spinning like crazy.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8483722.stm
CO2 has a small effect on “Climate Change”, but we still need to build those bomb shelters and refuges.
Let’s be honest, you really could not make it up.
Last year, I made a computer model that showed that the public’s belief in man-made global warming would virtually disappear by 2020…
http://algorelied.com/?p=1332
Just months later it seems that positive feedback in the form of Climategate et al, is causing loss of belief in man-made global warming to disappear EVEN FASTER than the computer model had predicted!
>>What is most interesting in the US is the decline of support despite a media blackout (for the most part). The online media has been rather effective in moving the terms of the debate.
I think people are considering this in the wrong light. If you accept the premise that AGW is an entirely concocted scheme created for political gain, which I always have, rather than a natural event, then what was required to make it an issue was a compliant media that bought it hook, line and sinker. Indeed, many such as GE/NBC where both the largest cheerleaders and potentially one of the biggest beneficiaries. There was simply no way the public was going to buy this farcical nonsense without “voices of authority” beating it into their heads on a daily basis.
What was needed to drive this scam down in importance by the public was not so much an aggressive media expose but rather for the media just to stop trying to scare the hell out of people. While it is a ton of fun for some of us who have been raging against this nonsense for year to watch it die a slow and painful death, the population as a whole has already put this issue where it rightfully belongs, at the bottom of their list of issues. No media help required.
It should be and it is. I am doing everything I can to educate people about Global Warming and to do research for themselves. What you do not appreciate, Edward, is that once people do, they stop believing it, just as I and millions of others did.
Thanks for the encouragement, though, consider it taken to heart!
I’m just waiting for them to jump on the N20 bandwagon…
Chris H (15:06:27) :
I disagree. I would bet that the concentration of CO2 in your blood has to be higher than that of oxygen if you put a plastic bag on your head and seal it. Once all the oxygen is consumed, the hemoglobin is only combined with CO2… what else? I would argue that you actually die from the lack of removing the CO2 from your blood.
I suggest that Edward Maibach, director of the Center for Climate Change Communication at George Mason University wander across campus and have lunch with his faculty colleague at GMU Edward Wegman. Google edward J. wegman and read his report to the House Science and Energy Subcommittee to see the job that he and his ad hoc committee did of demolishing MBH’s statistics.
More or less OT, but infuriating: Instead of going back to the Moon, and to Mars, guess what?
NASA is going to study ‘climate change’!
I am trying very hard to avoid four-letter words. . .
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/space/os-no-moon-for-nasa-20100126,0,2770904.story
That SOB! (only three letters)
/Mr Lynn
Plato Says (15:12:21) :
RichieP (14:55:56) :
I don’t suppose they will be overjoyed if, in 10 years 70% of the Alps is once again habitable, more of the trapped Ice Men are found dating from 10,000 years ago.
On the other hand, who is to say that the decrease in warming will not itself accelerate into glacial advance?
If current slopes project into the future with ironclad certainty, there would never have been the Banking Crisis and Financial Meltdown.
People instinctively pull back in markets just prior to adverse climactic change. This one was no different.
It appears that the technical legend of run-away carbon-dioxide global warming climathology (clime-mythology) still has many ardent believers.
MrLynn (16:22:12) :
The only part I would vouch for is restoring the 5,000 something rural stations they bulldozed. But not a penny to those agencies who ripped them out.
Sören (12:02:36) :
“Great, but this is also the nation which allegedly hardly believes in evulution. How do we know it’s not kidding this time too?”
Because not believing in evolution doesn’t need to influence the study of life, earth, physical or any other science?
RichieP wrote: “I’m afraid I’m not so sure, though there’s undoubtedly plenty of room for optimism at the moment. I have several highly intelligent, long-term friends……..
I have the same kinds of friends. I’ve observed something about them:
I submit that we ARE what we read.
Readers who love history books understand these ideas: pietas, fides, gravitas, dignitas, constantia. (These virtues were interwoven into the Roman education system.) Some people still read these ideas: Forgotten Gems http://oll.libertyfund.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=60&Itemid=262
Readers who love science fiction understand utopian ideas. (These are the ideas interwoven into our current culture, allowing many to fancy that we really can replicate heaven here on earth.)
See “Red Planets: Marxism and Science Fiction” by Mark Bould
Product Description: Science fiction and socialism have always had a close relationship. Many science fiction novelists and filmmakers have used the genre to examine explicit or implicit Marxist concerns.
So when folks scoff that this isn’t about religion – well – it is, in a way. I would venture a guess that a considerable percent of the believers are firmly convinced that the human spirit does not exist; and that reducing human population is no more than a reasonable and logical solution.
Mr Lynn – that was an upsetting revelation. On top of an earlier front-page article in Nature describing this:
http://www.nature.com/news/2009/091223/full/462978a.html
*******[Steven] Chu plans to tackle climate change by reviving the scientific and technological urgency of the Manhattan Project — enlisting some of the nation’s best minds to find a way to power the world without ruining it. His plans start at home, where he is trying to push the ponderous DOE to support riskier research that could yield huge dividends.
With a budget of US$27 billion, the department runs 17 national laboratories, oversees America’s nuclear stockpile and manages the environmental clean-up after the early nuclear age. It is the largest source of funds for physical-science research in the United States, and this year Chu had a much bigger pot to dole out. Just one month into his tenure, Congress gave the agency $37 billion in economic stimulus money — funds that Chu is steering towards renewable energy, nuclear power, carbon-sequestration pilot plants and projects to modernize the electric grid, all of which should help to solve the climate problem. “They say that necessity is the mother of invention and this is the mother of all necessities,” he says. “So we’re going to get the mother of all inventions. And it’s not going to be just one, it has to be many.”******
I am incredulous that we are still committed to carbon-sequestration.
“The erosion in both public concern and public trust about global warming should be a clarion call for people and organizations trying to educate the public about this important issue.”
Edward, you have it all backwards – the erosion in support has been caused because people are finally getting educated on the subject, not the other way around.
stun (11:44:58) :
“outreach climate change diversity officers”
Stun, better inform the Unemployment Benefits Office that the “unemployable” numbers are about to go through the roof!
Chu plans to tackle climate change by reviving the scientific and technological urgency of the Manhattan Project — enlisting some of the nation’s best minds to find a way to power the world without ruining it. His plans start at home, where he is trying to push the ponderous DOE to support riskier research that could yield huge dividends.
ITER has hit a big snag. Insiders know it will never lead to an economical power plant. And even if it is economical it will be too big. It is undergoing review now. I would bet that it gets the ax. Below link discusses the economics of ITER.
http://iecfusiontech.blogspot.com/2007/07/fusion-symposia.html
I like small Fusion. FRC – with Paul Allen Behind it. George Miley’s work at U Illinois. Focus Fusion – yeah, Lerner is nuts but he might be on to something. And of course my favorite Polywell Fusion.
Bussard’s IEC Fusion Technology (Polywell Fusion) Explained
And the best part? We Will Know In Two Years
BTW Chu talked to Bussard about Polywell before Bussard died.
http://iecfusiontech.blogspot.com/2008/12/incoming-energy-secretary-on-bussard.html
Oh yeah. If Polywell works it will make space travel really cheap.
A sop to the Greenies (climate) to get our fusion program on the right track might not be a bad trade off. Don’t forget that out of the $3/4 trillion stimulus about $8 million (with a $4 million kicker) went to Polywell. If it works it could be worth tens of trillions.
The thing is – a political pay off in terms of more research is vastly preferable to carbon taxes.
M. Simon – AND it would give the politicians a way to save face, I suppose.
In the ”helping public opinion on AGW continue its rapid decline” dept:
An excellent editorial posted just over 4 hours ago on IBD online; titled:
”United Nations’ Climate Chief Must Go”
Full piece at:
http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Article.aspx?id=519317
I’m surprised, in a way, that Bloomberg’s and other financial news didn’t go with this faster.
kadaka, John Whitman and Kate. Interesting (and – oh, almost wrote – believable 🙂 ), i.e., belief wording opens up for spurious results little to do with anyones scientific judgment. Hm, need to think about what it might imply in connection with other results, like oftentimes in Europe. Thanks – spirits high!
Australias national newspaper is running an on-line poll.
Q- How much do you trust scientific projections concerning global warming?
Completely 9.03% (749 votes)
Somewhat 11.38% (944 votes)
A little 14.91% (1237 votes)
Not at all 64.69% (5368 votes)
Total votes: 8298
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/opinion/polls
Henry chance (11:38:48) :
It will officially be over when Ruddles gives up.
It will officially be over when Penny Wong gets a new job and her ministry is closed down and the public servents are re-assigned or made redundant.
The phrase “settled science” wasn’t heard during
President Obama’s State of the Union Address this evening.
There was a spoken reference , “… there are those who doubt
the science.” in a short bit about climate change.
However, the climate change thought was used as a
shoehorn to encourage jobs creation through “green” or
“clean” or even “more energy efficient” products or methods.
Those of us in Ohio, as well as in West Virginia, Pennsylvania,
Kentucky, and Wyoming can take hope in the resurfacing of
the “clean coal” concept which was a part of Mr. Obama’s
Presidential campaign pledges last year.
Other than riggers and drillers along the coasts, I’m not
sure what “little guy” voters will benefit directly from
opening more of the continental shelves to oil exploration
and extraction.
Many listeners such as myself aren’t all that thrilled with
more nuclear plants… since the bill that comes in the mail
from such energy providers includes the costs for building,
operating, and the safe demolition of the very radioactive
physical plants leftovers. If there’s an “accident” by law
the utility company’s liability can’t exceed $250,000.00
dollars. (There’s some discussion as to whether that was
supposed per individual or in toto.)
So… many folks here have been promoted to “doubters”
from their previous positions of “skeptics” or “deniers”
or “criminals”.