- Americans who think global warming is happening outnumber those who think it is not happening by a ratio of nearly 5 to 1 (72% versus 15%).
- Those who are “very” or “extremely” sure global warming is happening outnumber those who are “very” or “extremely” sure it is not happening by about 6 to 1 (49% versus 8%).
- 58% of Americans understand that global warming is mostly human-caused. By contrast, 29% think it is caused mostly by natural changes in the environment.
- 53% of Americans understand that most scientists think global warming is happening.
I mean, isn’t this the wrong way to approach it from the jump? Science isn’t a matter of belief, but of understanding.
It’s not, do you believe in gravity, it’s do you understand gravity (to whatever degree). It should then also be, do you understand climate change?
Framing it as a matter of belief falls right into the the hands of the anti science people.
The reality of it is definitely one of understanding, but belief significantly impacts what’s politically possible.
Most of us are not scientists or have a good handle on the latest climate research. We have to trust in what scientists tell us that climate change is real and is something we need to worry about. In that sense, acceptance of science relies on people’s beliefs.
This kind of research is just trying to measure the nature of people’s climate opinions, which people tend to think of in terms of their beliefs.