Whats the hubbub about public opinion polls on climate change all about, and why should we care?
Considering the views of the public and of other transportation stakeholders is an integral part of our Federal-aid highway program. Recent polls have shown a sharp decline in the percentage of Americans who say there is solid evidence that global temperatures are rising (57% in October 2009 vs. 71% in April 2008 according to the Pew Research Center or who see global warming as a very serious problem (35% in October 2009 vs. 44% in April 2008). Yale University and George Mason University (GMU) polling results indicate that “public concern about global warming, and public trust in a range of information sources, has dropped sharply over the past year” (see Climate Change in the American Mind: Americans’ global warming beliefs and attitudes in January 2010). However, the relationship between public concern about or belief in climate change isn’t reflected in whether or not people think action should be taken to reduce GHG emissions. In the Pew 2009 survey, 50% of the public favored “sett
