A recent survey shows half of Americans consider environmental impacts when making a purchase. However, far fewer are actively engaged in the fight against climate change.
The survey was conducted by the Yale Project on Climate Change Communication and the George Mason University Center for Climate Change Communication.
When it comes to big-ticket purchases, Americans do consider energy efficiency. Indeed, most respondents planned to buy energy-efficient appliances and fuel-efficient cars next time they shop for those big ticket items.
People also expressed interest in buying local and organic food, with seventy percent saying they do so at least occasionally, and even more planning to do so in the next year.
But despite these positive findings, attitudes about climate change still vary widely. Researchers divided the respondents into what they termed “the Six Americas.” These categories ranged from the Alarmed – people who are very concerned about climate change — to the Dismissive, those who think climate change is a myth.
The majority – some sixty-seven percent of respondents – were labeled Alarmed, Concerned, or Cautious. A third were Disengaged, Doubtful, or Dismissive.
Sadly, even among the two-thirds who care about climate change, actual engagement is low. Since 2008, only one in ten Americans has contacted a government official to voice concerns about climate change.
Furthermore, Americans are now less likely than in the past to believe that our efforts – and those of other industrialized nations – will be able to fix the problem for future generations.
We must overcome despair if we hope to make some real progress.
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Web Links
Poll: Americans Shop With Climate on Their Minds
http://ens-newswire.com/2013/06/21/poll-americans-shop-with-climate-on-their-minds/
Americans’ Actions to Limit Global Warming in April 2013
http://environment.yale.edu/climate-communication/files/Behavior-April-2013.pdf
Photo, taken on July 10, 2011, courtesy of NASA Goddard Space Flight Center via Flickr.
Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio. Support for Earth Wise comes from the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in Millbrook, NY.