Unfortunately, they didn’t put it as I do, Someone Else. I’m also surprised that the percent is so low
49% of Americans think climate change is mostly someone else’s problem
Pew surveyed 8,842 adults in the US between September 25 and October 1, 2023, about their opinions on climate change. The survey asked Americans who said they see climate change as at least a somewhat serious problem which groups they think can do “a lot” to combat climate change. (The deniers who said climate change is not too serious or not a problem – 24% – weren’t asked that particular question.)
Fifty-five percent of respondents answered that the energy industry can make a big impact, and 52% think large businesses and corporations can mitigate climate change. Then came the belief that the federal government (47%) and cities and communities (40%) can make a difference.
But only 27% of US adults polled felt that individual Americans’ efforts can help “a lot.” Thirty-six percent said that individuals’ efforts can do “a little” to impact climate change, and 13% said “not much.”
That means just under half – 49% – of Americans think individuals can do a little, or not much, to combat climate change. Then add in the 24% group who think climate change isn’t real, and you have a majority.
So, um, do these same people not use fossil fuels themselves? Remember, half of every barrel goes to make some over 600 products other than gasoline. Clothes, shoes, plastics, computers, TVs, smartphones, makeup, and so much more. Do they not buy products from Big Companies? And when they talk about government, do they not realize it would mean government forcing these people to change their lives to comply?
Yet when asked to look ahead to 30 years from now, 52% felt that “major changes” to everyday life will be needed to address the problems caused by climate change. (Again, the climate change deniers weren’t asked this question.)
Why are they not willing to change their own lives right now?
More than half of Americans think that they – or rather, their kids and grandkids – are going to have to make major changes to everyday life to address the problems caused by climate change in 2053.
But just under half also feel there’s nothing more than at least “a little” that individual people can do about climate change right now.
Let’s also presume that those polled were also thinking about themselves when they answered this question about individuals. So what’s with this seemingly selfish viewpoint?
A lot of psychology comes into play. Psychology professor Art Markman reported in 2018 for Harvard Business Review that acting on climate change means “a trade-off between short-term and long-term benefits, which is the hardest trade-off for people to make.”
Nah. It’s just that they’re a bunch of hypocrites, and ‘climate change’ is simply another way of pushing Modern Socialism.
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