Poll Finds Over Two Thirds of American Voters Fear Climate Change

Two weeks ago a government report was published saying that climate change will cost the U.S. economy hundreds of billions of dollars by the end of the century. The report said that new weather patterns “will damage everything from human health to infrastructure and agricultural production.”

Donald Trump, of course, ignored the report, and former vice president Al Gore called out the president for trying to bury the report by releasing it the day after Thanksgiving.

Finally last week Trump did comment on the report, saying “I don’t believe it.”

But most Americans do believe the dire government report, predicting a major crisis if we don’t take steps right now to combat climate change. A new POLITICO/Morning Consult poll published today found that nearly 70 percent of American voters are either “very concerned” or “somewhat concerned” about the findings of the report.

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In addition, another 58 percent of American voters believe that that climate change is caused by human activity, which was also the conclusion of the government report.

Increasingly it appears that “climate change deniers” are in the minority in America, although they are in the majority within the Republican Party.

This year the raging wildfires in California and the devastating floods in North Carolina have converted some climate change skeptics into believers.

The poll was conducted on December 4, about one week after Trump said he didn’t believe the conclusions from the government report.

In an interview with The Washington Post last week Trump said many smart people, himself included, dispute the causes of climate change. Of course he provided no evidence for this statement which contradicts the opinion of most scientists on the subject.

“One of the problems that a lot of people like myself, we have very high levels of intelligence but we’re not necessarily such believers,” Trump said in the interview, adding, “As to whether or not it’s man-made and whether or not the effects that you’re talking about are there, I don’t see it.”

Because of people like Donald Trump, and other members of his party, the world may be heading for a climate disaster. If we are going to avoid this, we need to take collective action right now, and it must be sponsored by and supported by the U.S. government. If our current government officials won’t follow the will of the American people and do what’s necessary, then we need new leaders. And we need them right now.

Leo Vidal

I am a lifelong Democrat with a passion for social justice and progressive issues. I have degrees in writing, economics and law from the University of Iowa.