11/28/2008

Support for Global Warming Initiatives Falling around the world

The results of a very large 12,000 person poll are discussed here:

There is both growing public reluctance to make personal sacrifices and a distinct lack of enthusiasm for the major international efforts now underway to battle climate change, according to findings of a poll of 12,000 citizens in 11 countries, including Canada.
Results of the poll were released this week in advance of the start of a major international conference in Poland where delegates are considering steps toward a new international climate-change treaty to replace the Kyoto Protocol, which expires in 2012.
There already are reports emerging that some countries, such as coal-dependent Poland, are pushing for special treatment to avoid making major commitments to slash carbon emissions during a global economic downturn.
Less than half of those surveyed, or 47 per cent, said they were prepared to make personal lifestyle changes to reduce carbon emissions, down from 58 per cent last year.
Only 37 per cent said they were willing to spend "extra time" on the effort, an eight-point drop.
And only one in five respondents - or 20 per cent - said they'd spend extra money to reduce climate change. That's down from 28 per cent a year ago.
The Canadian results, from a poll of 1,000 respondents conducted in September, were virtually identical to the overall figures. There are no comparative figures for Canada because Canadians weren't included in the global study in 2007.
The 11 countries surveyed were Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Malaysia, Mexico, the United Kingdom and the United States. There were 2,000 respondents surveyed in China, including 1,000 in Hong Kong. . . .

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2 Comments:

Blogger JFA in Montreal said...

There might be something else at work other than "consumer's reluctance".

People might make the calculation, however it may be based on incomplete data, that that adapting to global warming might cost them less than trying to prevent it.

The cost of adaptation (vs the cost of prevention) is something we never ever see discussed in the mainstream media.

The average Canadian just faced a tripling of gas prices in Canada in the last ten years and no big end-of-world happened; we simply adapted.

It might be said that during periods of turmoil people give lower priority to environmental prevention, but at the psychological level, it might also be that greater everyday's uncertainty boosts the individual's trust in his ability to effectively cope with change.

The global warming message has been driven solely by trying to spread anxiety about a possible future. Maybe we are just fed up of being anxious, and gaining more self-confidence.

JFA in Montreal

11/29/2008 12:53 PM  
Blogger Improvedliving said...

Did the Fed, or Asian Saving, Cause the Housing Bubble?



Global Gifting Systems

12/09/2008 9:03 PM  

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