Although many lawmakers seem increasingly willing to discount public sentiment about public policy, it’s certainly good news that a fewer Americans are buying global warming alarmism. Gallup reports:
Gallup’s annual update on Americans’ attitudes toward the environment shows a public that over the last two years has become less worried about the threat of global warming, less convinced that its effects are already happening, and more likely to believe that scientists themselves are uncertain about its occurrence. In response to one key question, 48% of Americans now believe that the seriousness of global warming is generally exaggerated, up from 41% in 2009 and 31% in 1997, when Gallup first asked the question.
Gallup also notes that today fewer Americans believe that global warming is due to human activities. In 2003, six in ten thought temperature increases were the result of man; now just five in ten do. In 2003, 33 percent thought temperature changes were just part of nature: today, that’s the opinion of 46 percent.
Too bad Gallup didn’t ask more about the public policy options that leaders are advancing in the name of global warming. Undoubtedly, even a big chunk of those who believe in man-made global warming recognize that U.S. efforts to curb carbon emissions wouldn’t be meaningfully changing rising temperatures and would have a devastating impact on our economy and on family finances.