Americans’ priorities are beginning to shift back toward preserving the environment, though they still prioritize energy supply production and economic development over environmental protection, according to Gallup.
Attitudes toward the environment have been affected by the recession. Americans prioritized environmental protection until 2009, when their emphasis shifted to development and energy production.
Currently, just under half Americans (47%) consider the production of energy more important than protecting the environment, and 49% consider economic growth more important than the environment.
Younger adults are more likely to prioritize the environment over economic growth: more than half of 19-29-year-olds (53%) do so, compared to 43% of 30-49-year-olds, 37% of 50-64-year-olds, and 27% of those age 65 and older.
More than half of American adults (52%) think global warming has already begun, while 29% think it will happen in the future, and 15% don’t believe it will ever happen.
Source: Gallup, March 2012, Dennis Jacobe, Chief Economist, 901 F St., NW, Washington, DC 20004; 202-715-3030; www.gallup.com. Price: Available online at no charge.
© Copyright 2012, EPM Communications, Inc. May not be reproduced without written consent of publisher.