After analyzing all of the data from 2009 survey, Krosnick and his Stanford colleagues concluded that the 5-point drop in the percentage of Americans who believe in the global warming was largely made up of people who both mistrust scientists and think that the Earth is cooling down naturally.
We’re subjected to many dubious claims about science messaging — stuff like, “the world’s scientists are struggling with the unsettling feeling that the more they talk about climate change, the less progress they make.”
Scientists may have that feeling, but it has little basis in fact. You can’t discuss this subject in a serious fashion without looking at key factors like the anti-science disinformation campaign, the he-said/she-said coverage by the media, the decision by many enviros to downplay talk of global warming, and, in the U.S., the relatively coolish temperatures of the past two years (see “The disinformers are winning, but mostly with the GOP“).
So I wanted to bring you further analysis by someone who has done actual detailed polling and research on the subject, Stanford communications expert Jon Krosnick. He has released an analysis of his latest survey of U.S. public opinion on global warming. Below is a synopsis, plus a video interview of Krosnick (with links to the analysis and working papers). His results indicate:
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