Though two-thirds of Americans believe global warming is happening or will happen during their lifetimes, only about one-third see it as a serious threat to their way of life, a new Gallup Poll reports.
The wide perceptual gap has existed since Gallup first asked the question 17 years ago, but it has narrowed slightly. Today, 36 percent believe that global warming will seriously affect how they live, up from 25 percent in 1997.
At the same time, the percentage of people who do not see global warming hampering their lives has doubled since Gallup’s first survey – from 9 percent to 18 percent in the poll taken March 6 through Sunday.
Seniors and Republicans were the most skeptical about global warming. But even a solid majority (57 percent) of younger Americans – those 18 to 29 – do not now foresee big threats as the climate warms and changes.
The high-water mark of concern came in 2008, when 40 percent said it would pose a serious threat to how they lived.
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