(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Adults in the United States remain divided in their assessment of climate change, according to a poll by TNS released by the Washington Post and ABC News. 49 per cent of respondents are worried a great deal or a good amount about global warming, while 46 per cent are somewhat concerned or not concerned at all.

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 June 2005, U.S. president George W. Bush defended his decision not to adhere to the protocol, saying, "Kyoto would have wrecked our economy. I couldn't in good faith have signed Kyoto."

On Jan. 19, Democratic House speaker Nancy Pelosi discussed her views on the issue, saying, "The science of global warming and its impact is overwhelming and unequivocal. We want to work with President Bush on this important issue in a bipartisan way. But we cannot afford to wait."

White House press secretary Tony Snow revealed that Bush would discuss the "alternative energy sources" during his State of the Union address, adding, "There are plenty of opportunities out there to encourage people to do the right things."

Polling Data

How concerned are you about the issue of global warming—is that something that worries you a great deal, a good amount, just some, or hardly at all?

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