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PRESS RELEASE
Armenian Center for National and International Studies
75 Yerznkian Street
Yerevan 0033, Armenia
Tel: (+374 - 10) 52.87.80 or 27.48.18
Fax: (+374 - 10) 52.48.46
Email: [email protected] or [email protected]
Website: www.acnis.am
March 14, 2007
Poll Finds Worldwide Agreement That Climate Change is a Threat
Public Divided Over Whether Costly Steps Are Needed
March 14, 2007, 01:00 GMT
Contact, International Findings:
Steven Kull, 202-232-7500
Christopher Whitney, 312-821-7516
March 14, 2007, Yerevan, 16:00
Contact, Armenia Findings:
Stepan Safarian, 37410-528-780
Syuzanna Barseghian, 37410-274-818
Yerevan--An international survey found widespread agreement that climate
change is a pressing problem. This majority, however, is divided over
whether the problem of global warming is urgent enough to require immediate,
costly measures or whether more modest efforts are sufficient. The Armenian
Center for National and International Studies (ACNIS) today convened a
roundtable discussion tasked with presenting the first in a series of
reports based on the findings of this survey. The meeting brought together
members of environmental organizations, analysts, and media representatives.
In his opening remarks, ACNIS director of research Stepan Safarian
underscored the need for improvements in Armenia's foreign and domestic
policies within the framework of environmental issues. "With respect to
these issues, the current attitudes in Armenia are similar to those in many
parts of the world. And yet official Armenian policy geared toward
environmental protection is incomparable with those of developed countries,"
he said. ACNIS analyst Syuzanna Barseghian then presented the survey
results.
The survey was conducted by The Chicago Council on Global Affairs and
WorldPublicOpinion.org, in cooperation with polling organizations around the
world. It includes 17 countries--China, India, the United States, Indonesia,
Russia, Thailand, Ukraine, Poland, Iran, Mexico, South Korea, the
Philippines, Australia, Argentina, Peru, Israel, Armenia--and the
Palestinian territories. These represent more than 55 percent of the world
population.
This is the first in a series of reports based on the findings of this
survey that will analyze international attitudes on key international
issues. Not all questions were asked in all countries.
Twelve countries were asked whether steps should be taken to address climate
change and majorities in all but one of them favored action. The largest
majority in favor of measures to combat global warming is found in Australia
(92%).
China and Israel are the next most likely (83%) to favor climate change
policies. In the United States--the world's largest producer of greenhouse
gases--80 percent of respondents want to take steps to address the problem.
In no country does more than one in four endorse the statement, "Until we
are sure that global warming is really a problem, we should not take any
steps that would have economic costs." Indian respondents are the most
skeptical: 24 percent believe nothing should be done yet to address climate
change. Even in India, nonetheless, nearly half (49%) favor taking some
action (26% do not answer).
Ten countries were asked to evaluate how great a threat global warming poses
to their country's "vital interests" over the next ten years. Strong
majorities in all ten countries polled consider climate change to be a
threat, with majorities in six countries calling it "critical:" Mexico
(70%), Australia (69%), South Korea (67%), Iran (61%), Israel (52%) and
India (51%) and the rest calling it important.
Although there is general agreement in 12 countries that climate change is
real, there are differences over how much should be spent to address it. In
six countries, the most common view is that global warming is a pressing
problem that needs to be addressed "even if this involves significant
costs." These include: Australia (69%), Argentina (63%), Israel (54%), the
United States (43%), and Armenia (37%).
In five countries, the public tends instead to believe that climate change
is gradual and can be dealt with through less expensive measures. The
countries endorsing a go-slow, low-cost approach are the Philippines (49%),
Thailand (41%), Poland (39%), Ukraine (37%) and India (30%).
In two countries, the public is evenly divided between those who favor less
expensive measures and those who believe the problem requires action even if
this involves significant cost: China (low cost 41%, significant costs 42%)
and Russia (low costs 34%, significant costs 32%).
Additional findings include:
- Majorities or pluralities in five countries (Argentina, Armenia,
China, India and Thailand) agree that if the developed countries are willing
to provide "substantial aid," the less-developed countries should "make a
commitment to limit their greenhouse gas emissions." This includes a large
majority of Chinese respondents (79%) and nearly half of those polled in
India (48% agree, 29% disagree).
- A majority in the United States agrees that less-developed
countries committed to limiting carbon emissions should be given
"substantial aid" by the developed world. More than six in ten Americans
(64%) endorse such assistance.
- In ten of 11 countries, large majorities believe international
trade agreements should require signatories to "maintain minimum standards
for protecting the environment." Those in favor include the United States
(91%), Poland (90%), China (85%) and Mexico (76%).
- In all seven countries asked whether "improving the global
environment" should be an important foreign policy goal, majorities say it
should be considered "very important."
For complete findings and methodology, please visit
www.worldpublicopinion.org and www.thechicagocouncil.org. For the Armenian
version, visit www.acnis.am.
Founded in 1994 by Armenia's first Minister of Foreign Affairs Raffi K.
Hovannisian and supported by a global network of contributors, ACNIS serves
as a link between innovative scholarship and the public policy challenges
facing Armenia and the Armenian people in the post-Soviet world. It also
aspires to be a catalyst for creative, strategic thinking and a wider
understanding of the new global environment. In 2007, the Center focuses
primarily on civic education, democratic development, conflict resolution,
and applied research on critical domestic and foreign policy issues for the
state and the nation.
For further information on the Center call (37410) 52-87-80 or 27-48-18; fax
(37410) 52-48-46; email [email protected] or [email protected]; or visit
www.acnis.am.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Armenian Center for National and International Studies
75 Yerznkian Street
Yerevan 0033, Armenia
Tel: (+374 - 10) 52.87.80 or 27.48.18
Fax: (+374 - 10) 52.48.46
Email: [email protected] or [email protected]
Website: www.acnis.am
March 14, 2007
Poll Finds Worldwide Agreement That Climate Change is a Threat
Public Divided Over Whether Costly Steps Are Needed
March 14, 2007, 01:00 GMT
Contact, International Findings:
Steven Kull, 202-232-7500
Christopher Whitney, 312-821-7516
March 14, 2007, Yerevan, 16:00
Contact, Armenia Findings:
Stepan Safarian, 37410-528-780
Syuzanna Barseghian, 37410-274-818
Yerevan--An international survey found widespread agreement that climate
change is a pressing problem. This majority, however, is divided over
whether the problem of global warming is urgent enough to require immediate,
costly measures or whether more modest efforts are sufficient. The Armenian
Center for National and International Studies (ACNIS) today convened a
roundtable discussion tasked with presenting the first in a series of
reports based on the findings of this survey. The meeting brought together
members of environmental organizations, analysts, and media representatives.
In his opening remarks, ACNIS director of research Stepan Safarian
underscored the need for improvements in Armenia's foreign and domestic
policies within the framework of environmental issues. "With respect to
these issues, the current attitudes in Armenia are similar to those in many
parts of the world. And yet official Armenian policy geared toward
environmental protection is incomparable with those of developed countries,"
he said. ACNIS analyst Syuzanna Barseghian then presented the survey
results.
The survey was conducted by The Chicago Council on Global Affairs and
WorldPublicOpinion.org, in cooperation with polling organizations around the
world. It includes 17 countries--China, India, the United States, Indonesia,
Russia, Thailand, Ukraine, Poland, Iran, Mexico, South Korea, the
Philippines, Australia, Argentina, Peru, Israel, Armenia--and the
Palestinian territories. These represent more than 55 percent of the world
population.
This is the first in a series of reports based on the findings of this
survey that will analyze international attitudes on key international
issues. Not all questions were asked in all countries.
Twelve countries were asked whether steps should be taken to address climate
change and majorities in all but one of them favored action. The largest
majority in favor of measures to combat global warming is found in Australia
(92%).
China and Israel are the next most likely (83%) to favor climate change
policies. In the United States--the world's largest producer of greenhouse
gases--80 percent of respondents want to take steps to address the problem.
In no country does more than one in four endorse the statement, "Until we
are sure that global warming is really a problem, we should not take any
steps that would have economic costs." Indian respondents are the most
skeptical: 24 percent believe nothing should be done yet to address climate
change. Even in India, nonetheless, nearly half (49%) favor taking some
action (26% do not answer).
Ten countries were asked to evaluate how great a threat global warming poses
to their country's "vital interests" over the next ten years. Strong
majorities in all ten countries polled consider climate change to be a
threat, with majorities in six countries calling it "critical:" Mexico
(70%), Australia (69%), South Korea (67%), Iran (61%), Israel (52%) and
India (51%) and the rest calling it important.
Although there is general agreement in 12 countries that climate change is
real, there are differences over how much should be spent to address it. In
six countries, the most common view is that global warming is a pressing
problem that needs to be addressed "even if this involves significant
costs." These include: Australia (69%), Argentina (63%), Israel (54%), the
United States (43%), and Armenia (37%).
In five countries, the public tends instead to believe that climate change
is gradual and can be dealt with through less expensive measures. The
countries endorsing a go-slow, low-cost approach are the Philippines (49%),
Thailand (41%), Poland (39%), Ukraine (37%) and India (30%).
In two countries, the public is evenly divided between those who favor less
expensive measures and those who believe the problem requires action even if
this involves significant cost: China (low cost 41%, significant costs 42%)
and Russia (low costs 34%, significant costs 32%).
Additional findings include:
- Majorities or pluralities in five countries (Argentina, Armenia,
China, India and Thailand) agree that if the developed countries are willing
to provide "substantial aid," the less-developed countries should "make a
commitment to limit their greenhouse gas emissions." This includes a large
majority of Chinese respondents (79%) and nearly half of those polled in
India (48% agree, 29% disagree).
- A majority in the United States agrees that less-developed
countries committed to limiting carbon emissions should be given
"substantial aid" by the developed world. More than six in ten Americans
(64%) endorse such assistance.
- In ten of 11 countries, large majorities believe international
trade agreements should require signatories to "maintain minimum standards
for protecting the environment." Those in favor include the United States
(91%), Poland (90%), China (85%) and Mexico (76%).
- In all seven countries asked whether "improving the global
environment" should be an important foreign policy goal, majorities say it
should be considered "very important."
For complete findings and methodology, please visit
www.worldpublicopinion.org and www.thechicagocouncil.org. For the Armenian
version, visit www.acnis.am.
Founded in 1994 by Armenia's first Minister of Foreign Affairs Raffi K.
Hovannisian and supported by a global network of contributors, ACNIS serves
as a link between innovative scholarship and the public policy challenges
facing Armenia and the Armenian people in the post-Soviet world. It also
aspires to be a catalyst for creative, strategic thinking and a wider
understanding of the new global environment. In 2007, the Center focuses
primarily on civic education, democratic development, conflict resolution,
and applied research on critical domestic and foreign policy issues for the
state and the nation.
For further information on the Center call (37410) 52-87-80 or 27-48-18; fax
(37410) 52-48-46; email [email protected] or [email protected]; or visit
www.acnis.am.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress