This is a question that is going to come to the fore as our governments devise strategies to curb greenhouse gas emissions. We like to think we understand the seriousness of this problem and our furious leader claims he gets it but that's all talk. Action is something else entirely and it will directly test how genuine is our support for the job that needs doing.
Britons were recently surveyed about global warming and the poll findings aren't encouraging. The poll was conducted by Ipsos. It found that, while most were concerned about global warming, actually dealing with it wasn't much of a priority. From The Telegraph:
"...even local issues such as traffic, litter, graffiti and even dog mess registered higher than climate change.
"The survey found that more than half thought scientists were divided on climate change when in fact there is a scientific consenus.
"There was scepticism about global warming and a feeling that the problem is being exaggerated and most people do not believe that it would affect them personally. There was a feeling that climate change was something that would happen elsewhere to other people.
"And while most agreed Britain could make a real difference in preventing global climate change, there was a reluctance to make a change in lifestyle.
The head of the Ipsos environmental team, Phil Downing, said: "'Unfortunately there is a split - not between believers and non-believers but between those who recognise the need to do something and those who have a more passive response. They are a bit concerned by climate change but they think it has been exaggerated and over-hyped.'
"'The idea that the debate is over is not true. There are a lot of people out there who have not bought into the view that climate change is a threat.'"
2 comments:
People are still buying monster trucks and SUV's to comute to work with, building 5000 sq. foot homes, and travelling thousands of miles for vacation.
People support green initiatives so long as it doesn't inconvenience them too greatly. The best political strategy is perhaps to denounce GHG's, but blaim it all on big corporations or some far away province. Just don't tell people that they're are going to have to make sacrifices.
Enna says....It's big corporations who say people had to "have" in the first place. Just like computers were to save on paper use. What a joke that is. They are a waste of time and paper except for getting information out from one place to another quickly. Look at the problems with them...spam, viruses and other problems while some people are getting rich on these problems when technology could deal with it. We are being told we can't live without them nor can we now. With regards GHG's, there is already technology that could do away with GHG vehicles but the corporations are very, very reluctant to think outside the box....they may lose a few dollars. So, keep the public hooked.
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