Climate Change Is Current Threat: Shifting Attitudes in the US
According to a recent survey from Yale and George Mason University, National Geographic reports that the attitudes towards climate change are shifting. A record number of Americans are acknowledging it, and those that believed in it before now see it as a more pressing issue.
What Changed?
- 60% of respondents acknowledged that humans are responsible for climate change, the highest level for the annual survey since its inception in 2008.
- Recent wildfires, hurricanes, and extreme temperature swings seem to have left an impression – most (76%) cited “extreme weather events as the most influential factor shifting their views.”
Climate Change: A Current Threat
- Many respondents who had previously believed in climate change now see it as a pressing current issue, rather than a future threat
- 51% of respondents said they felt “helpless”
- A mental health phenomenon called “eco-anxiety” or “climate-anxiety” has become common, especially in areas prone to natural disasters
What’s the Solution?
- The bright side is that we seem to have reached a tipping point; people have acknowledged the problem and are concerned enough to support solutions
- Surprisingly, 67% of respondents supported a carbon tax, with the proceeds going to conservation and restoration work
- Although many people report feelings of anxiety, the best antidote seems to be empowerment through action, especially within your social network
- Rather than adding costs, some climate solutions are now money-savers as well.
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