Americans believe hot weather, hurricanes linked to global warming
National Wildlife Federation (NWF)
August 23, 2006


As first anniversary of Hurricane Katrina nears, a just-released Zogby poll shows that not only are Americans more convinced global warming is happening, they are also linking recent intense weather events like Hurricane Katrina and this summer's heat wave and droughts to global warming.



A Zogby International poll of 1,018 likely voters released today shows that not only are Americans more convinced that global warming is happening than they were two years ago, but they are also linking recent intense weather events like Hurricane Katrina, this summer’s heat wave and droughts to global warming.

The findings are not a scientific assertion that weather events are the result of global warming. They do show people are making the connection between global warming and the more intense weather events they experience and hear about.




Percent of respondents who say global warming has had
"some influence" or "major influence" on the following



Here are the poll highlights:

Three-fourths of American voters (74 percent) are more convinced today that global warming is happening than they were two years ago. Only one is five say they are less convinced global warming is occurring.

The numbers of people more convinced global warming is happening cuts across all demographic segments including region of the country, age, religion, racial background, gender and income group.



Related articles

Hurricane intensity linked to global warming
A new study says climate change is affecting the intensity of Atlantic hurricanes and that hurricane damage will likely worsen in coming years due to increasing ocean temperatures. Unlike recent studies that have linked higher sea temperatures to an increase in the number of hurricanes, the new research shows a direct relationship between climate change and hurricane intensity.

Climate change fuels more forest fires in the United States
New research says the frequency of large forest fires has increased in the western United States since the mid-1980s as spring temperatures climbed, mountain snows melted earlier and summers got hotter. The new findings, published in the July 6 issue of Science Express, suggest that climate change, not fire suppression policies and forest accumulation, is the primary driver of recent increases in large forest fires.

Majorities of Democrats (87 percent), Independents (82 percent) and Republicans (56 percent) said they are now somewhat or much more convinced that global warming is happening than they were two years ago.

“Global warming isn’t about right or left, it’s about right or wrong,” said Larry Schweiger, National Wildlife Federation president. “American’s believe we have a moral responsibility to confront global warming to protect our children’s future.”

Almost 70 percent of those surveyed believe that global warming has had a major or some influence on recent weather events: hurricanes like Katrina 68 percent; more frequent droughts 69 percent; less snowfall 68 percent; this summer’s heat wave 65 percent; more wildfires 58 percent.

72 percent of those polled agree that addressing global warming by requiring industries to reduce their green house gas emissions can improve the environment without harming the economy. This is up 5 percent from the same question asked three years ago.

When reviewed in total, this poll indicates that a growing majority of Americans, across all demographic categories, and political persuasions, recognize global warming as a threat that we as a nation must address.

This is a modified news release from the National Wildlife Federation (NWF).






Recommend this article? Comments?
Digg this article | Hugg this article | Contact

News options



News index | RSS | Add to MyYahoo!


Advertisements:


Organic Apparel from Patagonia | Insect-repelling clothing


MONGABAY.COM
Mongabay.com seeks to raise interest in and appreciation of wild lands and wildlife, while examining the impact of emerging trends in climate, technology, economics, and finance on conservation and development (more)

CONTENTS
Rainforests
Tropical Fish
News
Madagascar
Pictures
Kids' Site
Languages
Blog
T-shirts
Newsletter
About
Contact
Archives
Interns
Help


 
SUPPORT
Help support mongabay.com when you buy from Amazon.com



POPULAR PAGES
Rainforests
Rain forests
Amazon deforestation
Deforestation
Deforestation stats
Why rainforests matter
Saving rainforests
Deforestation stats
Rainforest canopy

News
Most popular
Worth saving?
Forest conservation
Earth Day
Poverty alleviation
Cell phones in Africa
Seniors helping Africa
Oil palm in rainforests
Extinction debate
Extinction crisis
Extinction debate
Palm Oil
Borneo
Orangutans in Borneo

News topics
Amazon
Biofuels
Brazil
Carbon Finance
Climate Change
Deforestation
Energy
Happy-upbeat
Interviews
Oceans
Palm oil
Rainforests
Solutions
Wildlife
MORE TOPICS

Advertising by





T-SHIRTS

  • Madagascar Wildlife
  • Dancing lemurs
  • Don't fall asleep the sloths will eat you
  • Sucking on this frog may make you insane


    CALENDARS

  • Mount Kenya
  • East Africa Safari Wildlife
  • Kenya's Turkana People
  • Peru
  • African Wildlife
  • Alaska
  • China
  • Madagascar Chameleons


    CANVAS BAGS

  • Hallucinogenic frog bag
  • Madagascar wildlife bag







  • Copyright mongabay 2007