We Can't Fix Global Warming Because We're Too Selfish

As the top chart shows, 56% of the American public believes the opinion of scientists, as reported in the media, is either correct or underestimated. They recognize that global warming (global climate change) is real, and will have serious consequences to our world. In addition, 55% of the population believes that the global warming is caused by human activity (the overuse of fossil-based fuels) -- and has believed that for at least the last 15 years.

This brings up an important question. If a significant majority of the population believes global warming is real, and believes it is caused by human activity, why are they not putting pressure on our government to do something about the problem -- and perhaps even more important, why do they keep electing climate-deniers to represent them in Washington?

Does that even make sense? How can we believe the problem is real and serious, and that changing human behavior can fix it, and still not demand the problem be fixed? Sadly, the reason for this inaction is probably revealed in the chart below. While most Americans believe global warming poses a serious threat, about 62% say that serious threat will not be seen in their lifetime. They think this is a problem that will have to be dealt with by their children and grandchildren, and since it won't be felt right now, it's a problem whose solution can be delayed.

That is not only a selfish decision, but it very well could also be a disastrous one. By the time our children, and especially our grandchildren, inherit the world, it could be too late to act to stave off the worst effects of global warming. We could well have reached the tipping point -- beyond which nothing can be done to alter the disastrous effects of the global climate change.

Past generations have tried to leave us a better world than the one they inherited -- and they were largely successful in those efforts. Why don't most Americans want to do the same for our descendants? Are we the most selfish generation of Americans -- caring only for what we can get, and not caring what kind of world we leave those who will come after us? Our inaction (coupled with the chart below) shows that may well be the case.

We should all be ashamed.

All of these charts were made using information in a new Gallup Poll -- done between March 5th and 8th of a random national sample of 1,025 adults, with a margin of error of about 4 points.