World warms to climate fight
The Synovate survey found more than two thirds of the people in the world are concerned about climate change with the South Africans and Brazilians most anxious. As a result, they are most likely to encourage their friends to become greener. Respondents in two major industrialized nations not to have signed the Kyoto Protocol are well ahead of their leaders, with 84 percent of Australians and 57 percent of Americans concerned about climate change. There is a significant section of the population that does not back the prevailing scientific view. A quarter of Americans either do not believe climate change is man made or are unconcerned about it.
More than 20 percent believe human causes, such as pollution, are the main factors causing climate change. Germans far more likely to blame cars and aircraft use for global warming. People tend to fight climate change through their consumption patterns. More than half have bought green products, energy efficient devices, reduced packaging, or saved power. People are unlikely to let their treasured possessions go. Only 20 percent have bought or plan to buy a smaller car and 28 percent have changed their travel plans.
BBC World
(China Daily 05/15/2007 page20)
