Among 21 social and economic issues, global warming ranks last as a top priority to Americans, who view it as increasingly less urgent, according to an annual survey released Monday by the Pew Research Center for People & the Press.
Just 28% of the 1,504 adults surveyed consider "dealing with global warming" a top priority, down from 38% three years ago. "Such a low ranking," Pew reports, "is driven in part by indifference among Republicans: just 11% consider global warming a top priority, compared with 43% of Democrats and 25% of independents."
"Protecting the environment" fared somewhat better, ranking 16th among issues. Some 44% say it should be a top priority for President Obama and Congress, down from 57% in 2007.
"Dealing with U.S. energy problem" is also seen as less urgent than it was three years ago: About 49% see it as a top priority now, compared to 57% in 2007.
Obama, who gives his State of the Union address Wednesday evening, has made clean energy a top priority. To create jobs and promote renewable power, he's devoted $90 billion of the $787 billion Recovery Act stimulus funds to clean energy-related projects.
Not surprisingly, as the economy remains weak, pocket-book issues topped the Pew survey. For the second consecutive year, improving the economy and creating jobs remained the top two priorities, chosen by 83% and 81% of adults respectively.
"Reducing the deficit" saw a modest rise in the share of adults who see it as a top priority: now 60%, up from 53% last year.
Results for the survey are based on telephone interviews, from Jan. 6-10, conducted under the direction of Princeton Survey Research Associates International. Two-thirds of the interviews were done on landlines, one-third via cellphones.
It goes along with Maslov's hierarchy--- You can't worry about the weather if your stomach is empty, just like you can't happily think about painting a picture if you don't first have a roof over your head. Thank you for all of your uploads Elmer. I enjoy your website and visit it daily! Eliz
And its hard to worry about global warming when you freezing to death. thanks
Hey Elmer, if we invert the question to ask, "For what percentage of people is AGW not a concern?", and if we wait a little bit while that percentage increases more and more, we'd have a new, legitimate "Hockey Stick Chart" to which we can refer!
That is a very good point I'll try to make one.
@Freddy and Elmer--- 1 axis could be time, the other numbers of people the title "Not concerned about global warming". Good idea. Bout to watch Obama's speech now...
Re. New Hockey Stick Chart:
Heck, we could have that new illustration now if we'd just fudge the percentages a little so that the blade of the new hockey stick would be extended unnaturally......
No, wait. They already did that before with the old hockey stick chart.
Nevermind. We'll take the high road and await the actual data. It's inevitable.
I have gone to AA meetings over the years and never made much of a association there because I could never quite connect to individuals in the meetings. This past year though I have been blessed to encounter a group that is the needle in the haystack that I have been searching for as it is attended by others like me. In that same class is the WFS meeting that I go to. Inside these two groups, I have found people that I am actually PROUD to be a part of because the people are so natural, humorous, caring and full of joyousness