A newly released poll by the Pew Research Center reveals a majority of Americans believe either there is no solid evidence of recent global warming or recent global warming is caused by nature rather than human activity. According to the poll, merely 40 percent of Americans believe there is solid evidence of recent global warming and such warming is caused primarily by humans.
Looking more closely at the numbers, 61 percent say there is solid evidence the Earth is warming while 35 percent say there is no such solid evidence. Within the 61 percent saying there is solid evidence of warming, 40 percent say humans are likely the cause, while 18 percent say nature is the cause and 3 percent are unsure.
According to Pew, political liberals constitute the only group saying global warming is occurring and humans are the primary cause. The poll’s results show those same political liberals believe by overwhelming margins that politicians should “do whatever it takes to protect the environment.”
The same poll shows Americans support building the Keystone XL pipeline by a margin of 61 percent to 27 percent.
James M. Taylor ([email protected]) is managing editor of Environment & Climate News.
Internet Info:
“Global Warming, Environment and Energy,” Pew Research Center, http://www.people-press.org/2014/06/26/section-7-global-warming-environment-and-energy/
