Scientific Consensus on Climate Change Has Not Permeated the Public

Despite the scientific consensus that global warming is occurring and caused by human activity, a new survey conducted for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette demonstrates that many Americans remain uncertain about the impact of climate change and the need for government action to address it.

This is contrary to some polls suggesting wide support for steps to counter the phenomenon.  David W. Moore, director of the iMediaEthics survey, said the results suggest that, because of flaws in methodology or wording, some other surveys have overstated the degree of public knowledge on the issue, and the intensity of support for measures to curb carbon emissions.  [See Mr. Moore’s essay Climate Partisans.  The poll report is available here, along with a description of the methodology.]

Mr. Moore argues that while many poll respondents will express an opinion on issues such as global warming, closer scrutiny shows that they do not have strong feelings on it one way or another.  One indication of the relative lack of intense, informed views on the issue is the way responses can be influenced by outside factors.

Poll:  Scientific Consensus on Climate Change Has Not Permeated the Public