Despite sharp differences in government policy, the views of the U.S. public on energy and global warming are remarkably similar to those in Sweden, Britain, and Japan. Americans do exhibit some differences, placing lower priority on the environment and global warming, and with fewer believing that "global warming has been established as a serious problem and immediate action is necessary". There also remains a small hard core of skeptics (<10%) who do not believe in the science of climate change and the need for action, a group that is much smaller in the other countries surveyed. The similarities are, however, pervasive. Similar preferences are manifest across a wide range of technology and fuel choices, in support of renewables, in research priorities, in a basic understanding of which technologies produce or reduce carbon dioxide (or misunderstandings in the case of nuclear power), and in willingness to pay for solving global warming.
In late September and early October 2003, we conducted a survey of public attitudes on energy use and environmental concerns. Over 1,200 people, representing a general population sample of the United States, responded. The survey asked seventeen questions about the environment, global warming, and climate changemitigation technologies. In addition, a full set of demographic data was provided for each respondent.Goals of the survey included determining attitudes toward global warming and climate change mitigation technologies, the level of public understanding of global warming and the carbon cycle, and public awareness of carbon dioxide capture and storage (or carbon sequestration). The survey results show that the environment is not a top priority for the U.S. public and global warming is not the top environmental concern; there is much confusion concerning the carbon cycle and the causes of global warming; and less than 4% of respondents were familiar with the terms carbon dioxide capture and storage or carbon sequestration. It is hoped that results of this survey will be helpful in designing public outreach campaigns.
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