June 20, 2006

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Scan) - Many adults in the United States are worried about global warming, according to a poll by Hart/McInturff released by the Wall Street Journal and NBC News. 29 per cent of respondents think climate change is a serious problem that requires immediate action, and 30 per cent feel there is enough evidence that global warming is taking place and some action should be taken.

(Angus Reid Global Scan) - Many adults in the United States are worried about global warming, according to a poll by Hart/McInturff released by the Wall Street Journal and NBC News. 29 per cent of respondents think climate change is a serious problem that requires immediate action, and 30 per cent feel there is enough evidence that global warming is taking place and some action should be taken.

Conversely, 28 per cent of respondents believe we currently do not know enough about climate change and more research is necessary before any action is taken, while nine per cent feel the concern over global warming is unwarranted.

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 U.S. signed the protocol but has not ratified it.

In July 2005 at the G-8 summit in Perthshire, Scotland, the leaders of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States promised to implement a "new dialogue" on climate change, deeming the issue a "serious long-term challenge" for the planet.

Earlier this month in Britain, former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev said global warming could lead to devastating water shortages, adding, "A third of the world's population would be without water by 2020—and 2020 is just tomorrow."

Polling Data

From what you know about global climate change or global warming, which one of the following statements comes closest to your opinion?

	Jun. 2006	Jul. 1999
Global climate change has been established as a serious problem and immediate action is necessary	29%	23%
There is enough evidence that climate change is taking place and some action should be taken	30%	28%
We don't know enough about global climate change, and more research is necessary before we take any actions	28%	32%
Concern about global climate change is unwarranted	9%	11%
Not sure	4%	6%

Source: Hart/McInturff / The Wall Street Journal / NBC News
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,002 American adults, conducted from Jun. 9 to Jun. 12, 2006. Margin of error is 3.1 per cent.