Poll: most Britons doubt cause of climate change

[leobold1]

Poll: most Britons doubt cause of climate change | Environment | The Observer

Juliette Jowit, environment editor
The Observer,
Sunday June 22, 2008

The majority of the British public is still not convinced that climate change is caused by humans - and many others believe scientists are exaggerating the problem, according to an exclusive poll for The Observer.

The results have shocked campaigners who hoped that doubts would have been silenced by a report last year by more than 2,500 scientists for the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which found a 90 per cent chance that humans were the main cause of climate change and warned that drastic action was needed to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

The findings come just before the release of the government's long-awaited renewable energy strategy, which aims to cut the UK's greenhouse gas emissions by 20 per cent over the next 12 years.

The poll, by Ipsos MORI, found widespread contradictions, with some people saying politicians were not doing enough to tackle the problem, even though they were cynical about government attempts to impose regulations or raise taxes. In a sign of the enormous task ahead for those pushing for drastic cuts to carbon emissions, many people said they did not want to restrict their lifestyles and only a small minority believe they need to make 'significant and radical' changes such as driving and flying less.

'It's disappointing and the government will be really worried,' said Jonathon Porritt, chairman of the government's Sustainable Development Commission. 'They [politicians] need the context in which they're developing new policies to be a lot stronger and more positive. Otherwise the potential for backlash and unpopularity is considerable.'

There is growing concern that an economic depression and rising fuel and food prices are denting public interest in environmental issues. Some environmentalists blame the public's doubts on last year's Channel 4 documentary The Great Global Warming Swindle, and on recent books, including one by Lord Lawson, the former Chancellor, that question the consensus on climate change.

However Professor Bjorn Lomborg, author of The Skeptical Environmentalist, said politicians and campaigners were to blame for over-simplifying the problem by only publicising evidence to support the case. 'Things that we do know - like humans do cause climate change - are being put in doubt,' said Lomborg. 'If you're saying, "We're not going to tell you the whole truth, but we're going to ask you to pay up a lot of money," people are going to be unsure.'

In response to the poll's findings, the Department for the Environment issued a statement: 'The IPCC... concluded the scientific evidence for climate change is clear and it is down to human activities. It is already affecting people's lives - and the impact will be much greater if we don't act now.'

Ipsos MORI polled 1,039 adults and found that six out of 10 agreed that 'many scientific experts still question if humans are contributing to climate change', and that four out of 10 'sometimes think climate change might not be as bad as people say'. In both cases, another 20 per cent were not convinced either way. Despite this, three quarters still professed to be concerned about climate change.

Those most worried were more likely to have a degree, be in social classes A or B, have a higher income, said Phil Downing, Ipsos MORI's head of environmental research.

'People are broadly concerned, but not entirely convinced,' said Downing. 'Despite many attempts to broaden the environment movement, it doesn't seem to have become fully embedded as a mainstream concern,' he said.

More than half of those polled did not have confidence in international or British political leaders to tackle climate change, but only just over a quarter think it's too late to stop it. Two thirds want the government to do more but nearly as many said they were cynical about government policies such as green taxes, which they see as 'stealth' taxes.

[leobold1]

However Professor Bjorn Lomborg, author of The Skeptical Environmentalist, said politicians and campaigners were to blame for over-simplifying the problem by only publicising evidence to support the case. 'Things that we do know - like humans do cause climate change - are being put in doubt,' said Lomborg. 'If you're saying, "We're not going to tell you the whole truth, but we're going to ask you to pay up a lot of money," people are going to be unsure.'

This is the biggest problem with the environmentalist/pro-global warming side.

We've discussed this on this, and many other, forums, and the mantra of the hard-core enviornmentalists is "There's a consensus". But, its been proven, time and again, that there isn't one.

Even the much-vaunted IPCC report had information that posed questions on whether or not global warming is man-made. But, that part of it never came out, and you had to search for it to find it.

But, if you bring up the fact that not all the data points to man-made global warming, you're attacked with a vengence. I, personally, have been banned from one forum, and driven off 2 more (and when its 25-2 in favor of one way, and the other one gets banned and you're told your next, its not worth it), because I refuse to believe that global warming is entirely (if at all) man-made.

These weren't forums that dealt with only global warming issues, or even science as a whole. One was a military based forum, one was Texas issues, and one was a history forum.

This is how anyone who doesn't believe in man-made global warming/climate change is treated in the outside world. And word is getting out. Add to that the utter refusal of anyone on the pro side to even look at the conflicting data, its no wonder that doubt is beginning to rise.

[Snowden]

Enforced public opinion? What about freedom of speech? It sounds like the people are enforcing the opposite, on the internet at least.

[Woodmonkey]

More than half of those polled did not have confidence in international or British political leaders to tackle climate change, but only just over a quarter think it's too late to stop it. Two thirds want the government to do more but nearly as many said they were cynical about government policies such as green taxes, which they see as 'stealth' taxes.

When politicians have an issue that they can raise taxes for, it's automatically suspicious. I see that the competence of politicians is trusted as much in the UK as in the US.

Originally Posted by leobold1

But, if you bring up the fact that not all the data points to man-made global warming, you're attacked with a vengence. I, personally, have been banned from one forum, and driven off 2 more (and when its 25-2 in favor of one way, and the other one gets banned and you're told your next, its not worth it), because I refuse to believe that global warming is entirely (if at all) man-made.

When only one opinion is allowed on a forum, it makes for a mighty poor forum. All you do is spend time agreeing with each other and that's dull. The only thing we ask is no flaming or personal attacks.

[leobold1]

Originally Posted by Snowden

Enforced public opinion? What about freedom of speech? It sounds like the people are enforcing the opposite, on the internet at least.

Free Speech doesn't exist for both sides when it comes to the Liberal point of view.

Global Warming. Disagree, and you're killing the planet and don't deserve to be spoken to.

Fairness Doctrine. The epitomy of the curtail of free speech.

GWOT. If you agree with the War in Iraq, or the attempts by the Bush Administration to stop any more attacks on US soil, you're a warmonger and/or want to look into everyone's life, you pervert!

You can't win.

I've gotten into it with (I think) everyone who comes into P/CP and Politics. I don't believe that I've driven anyone out. I may have driven you to tears of frustration (as you may have with me), but I'd still buy most of you a beer (or the ladies a glass of wine, if you wish).

Its not personal here. Its heated, its on point, but its not personal.

[Woodmonkey]

Its not personal here. Its heated, its on point, but its not personal

That's the way we want it to be. Heated, on point and not personal. You can't be thin skinned, however to debate in here and have to be able to stand being disagreed with.