International Poll: 54 Percent of Americans Think Climate Change Is Man-Made, Others Think It's a Government Tax Fraud
Not everyone believes in climate change, and a large number of people who do not believe in it are Americans.
According to a Global Trends Survey released this week conducted by the British market research company Ipsos MORI, the U.S. is one of the most divided countries when it comes to agreeing on the causes and impacts of climate change. In other words, some Americans believe it exists, while others believe that it is made-up.
The survey examined more than 16,000 people in 20 countries, and it showed that 54 percent of U.S. participants agreed that climate change is largely man-made. As of result of this lacking belief, the U.S. is ranked last in this international poll, as well as 10 points lower than other countries such as Britain and Australia.
At 93 percent, China is the number one country that agrees that humanity's activity is the cause of climate change. Other countries that agree that climate change is humanity's fault include France at 80 percent; Brazil at 79 percent; and Germany at 72 percent, CBS News reported.
The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report has reviewed thousands of scientific studies and reiterated a conclusion similar to that of other studies: climate change impacts everything, from flooding, to the worldwide food supplies, CBS News reported.
"Climate change is happening, the signs of it, the impacts, are detectable already," Dr. Michael Oppenheimer, lead author of the U.N. report, said. "If you live in a city, if you live along the coast, or if you eat to live, this is a problem you have to worry about."
The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration has also weighed in on the subject. According to NOAA, June of this year was the warmest globally, with temperatures that reached 1.3 degrees higher than the 20th Century average. Also in the U.S., the ocean temperatures were slightly above average than last month, as a result, some parts of the country suffered from extreme drought. More data indicates that May was the warmest month globally, and that 13 of the last 14 warmest years have been within the 21st Century.
On the other hand, the survey indicates that 57.3 percent of Americans agreed that globally, we are heading into some kind of environmental disaster, and the only way to stop it from happening is to change our habits and attitudes about the environment. At least 84 percent of the Italian respondents also agreed that a change in behavior could lessen the effects of global warming.
The other Americans that do not believe in climate change think it is a strategy created by the government to raise taxes. This view is astonishingly shared by a majority of the participants who took part in the survey. Globally speaking, however, the entire consensus of the participants that responded stated it is the responsibility of companies to address climate change.
At least 65 percent of Americans surveyed do not think that companies are "paying enough attention to the environment."
Keith Gaby, the communications director for climate and air at the Environmental Defense Fund, stated that American opinions might be divided; the common ground is that over 61 percent of the respondents believe that some type of action must be done to fight against climate change, CBS News reported.
"Scientists are just reporting what they see. The data on climate change can sound pretty scary, but that's not the fault of scientists," Gaby said.
He added that scientists should continue to inform the public.
"Show the costs to consumers, taxpayers, and businesses from stronger storms, heat waves, and health impacts. Show coastal communities the best science on sea level rise. Let people know that there are cost-effective solutions," Gaby said.
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