Search

Over the last decade there has been a significant evolution of American public opinion regarding global warming. During this time period residents of the United States have indicated increased awareness of the issue, growing belief that the climate is changing and higher levels of concern regarding the impact that this phenomenon will have on the planet. While most Americans indicate a belief in the reality of global warming, little is known about the reasons why they believe this phenomenon is occurring. For example, has this increased public acceptance of climate change been caused by exposure to scientific evidence which demonstrates changes to the earth's climate, or has the change in public belief in global warming resulted more from the personal observations and experiences of individuals? And while a majority of Americans do acknowledge belief in anthropogenic induced global warming, what factors have led millions of United States residents to express disbelief in this well publicized matter? In this paper we seek to shed insight into the determinants of individual belief in global warming through a multi-faceted survey research design in which Americans provided detailed information regarding the effect of various factors on their views regarding climate change. Interviews with over 2100 respondents, including oversamples in four diverse states, provide evidence that American attitudes towards climate change are being shaped as much by their personal experiences as from scientific and physical evidence. The survey findings also indicate that partisan affiliation, rather than other individual level characteristics, forms the dominant lens through which this issue of climate change is viewed by citizens of the United States. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Literature on the tactics of environmental organizations notes that major environmental groups have evolved to embrace a dominant strategy of lobbying for federal solutions to environmental problems. Such a position is indeed, supported with statements from representatives of major environmental organizations like the Natural Resources Defense Council. Traditionally, successful efforts by major environmental groups have focused on policies that address visible damage in the issue areas of public land, water, and wildlife. In the case of global warming, however, the strategy to influence the adoption of federal policy initiatives to address the issue has proven fruitless for almost two decades. Furthermore, every citizen in the U.S. engages in the activities that contribute to global warming through individual market decisions, of which U.S. policies have been historically reluctant to regulate. Studies on the evolution of the U.S. environmental movement have shown a trend towards the individualization of responsibility for environmental problems. Critics of this trend have placed blame on national environmental organizations, which have been professionalizing in an effort to adapt to the changing political environment. This paper has two purposes: to determine if major U.S. environmental organizations have indeed shifted their strategy and tactics on the issue of global warming away from a focus on federal action and, if so, why. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]