A new study from the Program on International Policy Attitudes (PIPA) finds “overwhelming” support for the US to limit greenhouse gas emissions. I haven’t looked at the questionnaire or the full report of findings yet, but I have my doubts about this poll of 812 Americans on the eve of the G8 Summit.
The
Financial Times wrote, “[T]he Pipa study found that 73 per cent felt
the US should ‘participate’ in Kyoto.” It turns out that ‘participate’
is in quotes for a reason. The Kyoto Protocol calls for the US to cut emissions during the period 2008-2012 by 7 percent below 1990 emission levels. According to the FT, however, Pipa found “More than 80 per cent said they supported legislation to require large companies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 2000 levels by 2010 and to 1990 levels by 2020.”
After PIPA’s hammering, “56 per cent of respondents would be
willing to incur significant economic costs to address climate change, if there was agreement in the scientific community on global warming,”
according to the FT. The media campaign to convince us of this
agreement is working–52 percent think there is consensus, up 9 points
from last year. In case the message hasn’t gotten through to the
troglodytes, PIPA’s summary notes that “in 1994 only
28% perceived a scientific consensus while 58% assumed that scientists were divided.”
“The poll did not ask about the politically unpopular idea of a tax on petrol,” said the FT.
PIPA found: “Curiously, 43% still assume,
incorrectly, that President Bush favors US participation
in the Kyoto Treaty and another 14% are not sure.
Only 43% are aware that he opposes US participation.”
It’s like Napoleon Dynamite–so many sweet quotes.
