October 11, 2006

Abstract: - Many adults in Alaska believe climate change is evident, according to a poll by the Craciun Research Group. 81 per cent of respondents are completely or mostly convinced that global warming is happening.

- Many adults in Alaska believe climate change is evident, according to a poll by the Craciun Research Group. 81 per cent of respondents are completely or mostly convinced that global warming is happening.

The term global warming refers to an increase of the Earth's average temperature. Some theories say that climate change might be the result of human-generated carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.

In 1998, several countries agreed to the Kyoto Protocol, a proposed amendment to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The agreement commits nations to reduce their emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. The United States signed the protocol but has not ratified it.

Last month, the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) issued a report on the effects of climate change. The document claims the Arctic sea ice coverage in the summer of 2005 was the smallest recorded in the past 100 years.

Polling Data

How convinced are you that global warming is happening?

Completely convinced	43%
Mostly convinced	38%
Not very convinced	14%
Not at all convinced	5%

Source: Craciun Research Group
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,016 Alaskan adults, conducted from May 9 to Jun. 29, 2006. Margin of error is 3.1 per cent.