Public concern for environment lowest in 20 years

[G_j]

http://m.guardiannews.com/environment/2013/feb/28/public-concern-environment

Thursday 28 February 2013 07.42 EST

Public concern for environment lowest in 20 years

Levels of public concern were lowest since 1992 in 12 countries, according to an international poll

Public concern in environmental issues including global warming, the loss of species and air pollution has dropped to its lowest level in two decades, according to an international poll released this week.

The GlobeScan poll, undertaken last summer before superstorm Sandy hit the Caribbean and New York, showed levels of public concern in 12 countries over environmental problems – which also also included fresh water shortages and depletion of natural resources – were even lower than 1992, when the first Earth summit was held in Rio.

The decline has come in a period when the signs of environmental degradation have become clearer and the science stronger, from species going extinct faster than new ones can evolve to dramatic climate change impacts such as the shrinking of Arctic sea ice in 2012 by 18% against the previous record.

..more..

[kestrel91316]

1. Humans are idiots. We deserve the fate that awaits us.

[RobertEarl]

2. It's all bad news

People get tired of thinking about all the bad stuff. Me too, but i know too much to just forget about what is happening. Ignorance is bliss, and who doesn't like bliss?

[mykpart]

3. Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

When you are worried about food and shelter you can't think about much else until those basic needs are taken care of.

[ChisolmTrailDem]

5. Exactly. When we're secure and comfortable we can focus on extra-personal

things like the environment and climate change, or heck even the problems of friends and family.

[marions ghost]

4. Of course

When you're worried about your job, your kids, your parents, your mortgage, your health care ...etc etc etc

They have us where they want us. People throw up their hands in the face of global warming denial or fracking or offshore drilling or habitat loss...it seems too big, too overwhelming...no leadership at the top.

[KurtNYC]

6. "Lowest" = 49% said climate change is a "very serious concern"

58% said fresh water was very serious concern.

Deeper numbers -- How many agree "global warming is a serious personal threat" by country:

Japan 80%
South Korea 80%
Argentina 71%
Brazil 76%
Australia 75%
USA 63%

..on the low end...

Afghanistan 18%
Ghana 19%
China 21%

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_change_opinion_by_country

So concern is very high in spite of the recent drop.

I saw a woman with a re-usable shopping bag that had written on it: "I am saving the planet. What are YOU doing?" which got me thinking two things. 1) the planet will be here 100,000 years from now so it isn't really the "planet" that is in jeopardy, and 2) our efforts so far seem mostly guided by corporate green-washing. Corporations are using 'eco-friendly' marketing as a way to cut their own costs, eg. maximize profits.

The effects of global warming are now having major impact and it is now too late to stop it but we aren't really trying so far.

[Heywood J]

7. Many people are concerned with being able to eat, clothe themselves, and have shelter.

Also for their children, and potentially relatives for whom they give care. What's euphemistically called "unstable employment" is becoming the norm.

Maybe we've reached peak stress and there's no more to extract?