Results from a recent survey conducted by a University of Missouri (MU) professor have revealed that the U.S. public, while aware of the deteriorating global environment, is concerned predominantly with local and national environmental issues.
Washington, March 27 : Results from a recent survey conducted by a University of Missouri (MU) professor have revealed that the U.S. public, while aware of the deteriorating global environment, is concerned predominantly with local and national environmental issues.
"The survey's core result is that people care about their communities and express the desire to see government action taken toward local and national issues," said David Konisky, an assistant professor in the Truman School of Public Affairs at MU.
According to Konisky, people in the U.S. are hesitant to support efforts concerning global issues even though they believe that environmental quality is poorer at the global level than at the local and national level.
"This is surprising given the media attention that global warming has recently received and reflects the division of opinion about the severity of climate change," he said.
For arriving at his results, Konisky recently surveyed 1,000 adults concerning their attitudes about the environment.
The survey polled respondents about their levels of concern for the environment and preferences for government action to address a wide set of environmental issues.
A strong majority of the public expressed general concern about the environment.
According to the survey, the top three issues that the public wants the government to address are protecting community drinking water, reducing pollution of U.S. rivers and lakes, and improving urban air pollution issues like smog.
"Americans are clearly most concerned about pollution issues that might affect their personal health, or the health of their families," said Konisky.
In the survey, global warming ranks eighth in importance.
ANI