Survey Shows Environment is Low on Public Concerns List
According to a newly released international study, it was shown that climate change and the environment is not high on the priority list for people in the U.S. and around the globe.
Surveys conducted by the International Social Survey Program (ISSP) in 33 countries from 1993 through 2010 were reviewed for the study. According to the results, when asked to rank priority worries, people were five times more likely to point to the economy over the environment. Also, when asked about climate change, people identified the issue as more of a national problem than a personal concern.
Immigration and the environment did not make the top of the list in any country over the 17-year period. For the U.S., the economy ranked as the highest concern, while concern for the environment ranked sixth. In fact, the economy ranked highest in concern in 15 countries, followed by health care in eight, education in six, poverty in two, and terrorism and crime in one country each.
The latest surveys were completed in 2010. Similar surveys have been conducted since 1993, and little change has been noted on people’s concern for climate change. Differences exist among the countries, suggesting that widespread public support for current action on the issue will represent a major shift in attitude.