According to a new poll, Americans might finally start believing that people are one of the major factors that contribute to climate change. The new U.S. Gallup poll revealed a remarkable record of Americans who are worried about global warming, many more than before.

For the latest survey, researchers asked a random sample of 1,019 adults (aged 18 and older) some questions via telephone. All of the respondents live in the U.S. and, more specifically, in the District of Columbia.

As revealed by the new poll, American people are finally taking climate change more seriously; in fact, a total of 64 percent of Americans have reported being worried a “fair amount” or a “great deal” for the effects of global warming – the highest percentage recorded over the past eight years.

One of the factors that might have contributed to the new poll results is the winter of 2015, which had the warmest temperatures on record in the U.S. According to the Gallup poll, there was also a slight increase in the percentage of Americans who think we are already experiencing the effects of global warming.

But researchers found something else. A country’s position on global warming is mainly measured by whether the population living in it thinks that in the end, climate change will start becoming a serious threat to its way of life.

In the latest Gallup poll, researchers found that 41 percent of Americans agree with the statement; that number has gone up from 37 percent in the 2015 poll.

Moreover, as many as 65 percent of Americans now believe that human activities are more to blame for the increase in Earth’s temperature, rather than natural causes. This is a four-point leap from the previous record of 61 percent in 2007.

But is it really surprising that Americans have had a change of heart, in light of the past winter? The U.S. has experienced unusually warm temperatures this February, especially in the western part of the country. Eight states have just had the warmest February on record.

Overall, the increase in the winter contiguous U.S. temperature was some 2.1 degrees higher than the 20th-century average.

Such findings are relevant in terms of tackling climate change in the future. It may be easier to establish some policies that would mitigate this issue if more Americans believe that they – and other humans – are contributing to the cause of global warming.
Image Source: National Geographic