Poll after poll after poll consistently show that when given a list if issues, “climate change” comes in way down the list of concerns. More often last place. Heck, in Australia it is 2nd to last when it comes to environmental concerns
(The Age) Australians rank climate change well down on their list of concerns, even though most believe temperatures where they live will rise, according to an annual survey of attitudes by the CSIRO.
On a list of 16 issues ranging from health and cost of living to terrorism and drug problems, climate change came in at just 14th.
Even among environmental issues, the climate ranked only seventh out of eight concerns, behind household waste and above only salinity.
Zoe Leviston, a social psychologist at CSIRO and lead author of the survey, said the ranking was “surprisingly low”, not least because more than 70 per cent of respondents also judged climate change to be either somewhat, very or extremely important.
Dr. Leviston thinks people are turned off because the issue has become so politicized. That could be a partial explanation. I would suggest a bigger one is that when it comes to things people want to actually tackle they stop worrying about a cute little 1st World issue and worry about real things. Climate change is fun and trendy to yammer in about, but when it comes to Doing Something most realize that their own lives will be harmed. And most do not want to give up any of their cushy 1st World lifestyle.
