Think locally about global warming
March 28th, 2008 by Jim JustA new survey titled Public Attitudes on the Environment (pdf) reveals that people prefer to act locally on environmental issues – which may be why calls to tackle “global” warming don’t seem to be having much appeal as the potentially catastrophic consequences warrant.
The survey’s core result is that people care about their communities and express the desire to see government action taken toward local and national issues. People are hesitant to support efforts concerning global issues even though they believe that environmental quality is poorer at the global level than at the local and national level.
Americans are clearly most concerned about pollution issues that might affect their personal health, or the health of their families.
The survey also revealed stark differences in people’s environmental attitudes, depending on their political leanings. Democrats and political liberals clearly express more desire for governmental action to address environmental problems, while Republicans and ideological conservatives disdain government intervention.