Majority of Americans acknowledge global warming effects

57 per cent of American voters believe they are seeing changes in their local weather due to global warming with nearly three-quarters (74 per cent) saying the changes are for the worse. 47 per cent rate the efforts of the Clinton Administration to address the problem of climate change as “only fair” or “poor.”

A majority of American voters agree that enough is known about the problem and that action should be taken now rather than wait to study the matter further. As to solutions, there is 97 per cent feel the US should increase the use of new energy technologies that improve fuel efficiency and conserve energy while 93 per cent support increasing the use of renewable energy such as solar, wind, geothermal, biomass, and hydroelectric power.

On the other hand, 69 per cent of voters favour decreasing the use of oil and coal. Similarly, only 14 per cent strongly favour using more nuclear power while almost four times as many oppose that option.

“There is a rising tide of public awareness about climate change which assures this will emerge as a dominant issue in the next Congress,” warned Alden Meyer of the Union of Concerned Scientists. “The White House must intensify its efforts and more aggressively stand up to the know-nothings in Congress and make them feel the heat on global warming.”

The survey of 1,003 voters, ‘America Speaks Out on Energy: Climate Change – The Heat Is On,’ was conducted for the SEC by Research/Strategy/ Management of Rockville, Maryland. The SEC is a coalition of 35 business, environmental, consumer, and energy policy organizations founded to promote renewable energy.