There's little doubt in Kathy Dalton's mind that the Earth is getting warmer. The reason for that trend, she says, is obvious.
''I think humans are responsible for the increased carbon output …
probably 90 percent of it,'' said Dalton, 37, of Upper Macungie
Township. ''In reading what scientists say about it, it seems clear.''
Dalton is among three out of four Pennsylvanians who believe the
planet's climate is changing, it's at least ''somewhat'' of a serious
problem and we're partly to blame with our reliance on gas-guzzling
vehicles and fossil fuels. That's according to a survey conducted by
Muhlenberg College in Allentown and the University of Michigan in Ann
Arbor.
But when it comes to solving the problem, most in the state aren't
willing to put out more than $100 of their own money toward the cause,
particularly if it would mean higher gasoline prices or electric bills,
the poll shows.
And some survey participants, like Hampson Skinker, 79, of Lower
Macungie Township, and Jim Walsh, 46, of Pennsburg, while acknowledging
the warming trend, say the purported consequences of global warming are
overblown.
''If global warming is real and they make Pennsburg beachfront
property, I'm not going to be sad about it,'' said Walsh, a sales
manager for an automatic door company. ''I think we're more in danger
of a solar emission wiping out our galaxy than we are of burning fuel
and wiping out our planet.''
The survey of 581 Pennsylvanians, while mirroring national polls, gives
a rare glimpse into the Keystone State's take on a trend scientists
have said could one day lead to water and food shortages and
devastating floods.
''While most Pennsylvanians believe the Earth is getting warmer and
that it is caused by human activity, they are very mixed in terms of
their support for policy options being called for by experts on how to
address the problem,'' said Christopher Borick, a political science
professor at Muhlenberg College who conducted the study with Barry
Rabe, a professor of public policy at the University of Michigan.
A report last year by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
says with near certainty -- more than 90 percent confidence -- that the
burning of fossil fuels has increased the concentration of
heat-trapping greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The report predicts
annual average temperatures could go up by 3 to 7 degrees Fahrenheit
this century if the trend continues.
Environmental groups such as the U.S. Public Interest Research Group
say the only way to stop the Earth's rising temperature is to reduce
emissions by 80 percent by mid-century. Achieving a 23 percent cut in
carbon dioxide emissions by 2020 would require vehicle travel to remain
at current levels, vehicle fuel economy standards to increase to 40
miles per gallon and 10 percent of all fuel to come from cleaner
alternatives.
Also, energy consumption would have to drop by 10 percent and 20
percent of all U.S. electricity would have to come from new, renewable
energy sources.
Dalton, a stay-at-home mother of two, is willing to sacrifice as much
as $1,000 of her family's annual income to combat climate change. She's
unique among those polled. While two out of three indicate a
willingness to pay more to help spur production of renewable energy
sources, only 22 percent are willing to contribute more than $100.
In addition, 57 percent were ''strongly opposed'' or ''somewhat
opposed'' to electric bill surcharges meant to support development of
renewable energy.
Verda Delp, 62, of Saylorsburg gave a resounding ''no'' when asked if
she'd be willing to pay anything out of her own pocket. She believes
the warming Earth is a problem and does what she can to conserve energy
by ''constantly turning out lights and having our furnace set on 60
[degrees].''
''I would go along with increasing taxes on gas,'' Delp said. ''A lot of people don't conserve.''
The poll results indicate most Pennsylvanians are open to government
fixes for the problem: improving fuel efficiency, requiring more use of
renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power and developing
more clean coal and ethanol.
And to the surprise of some experts, 59 percent advocated the increased use of nuclear power.
''I think the country has made a huge mistake by allowing
environmentalists to push [nuclear power] off the agenda,'' said
Skinker, who was among 61 percent of Republicans who acknowledge the
warming trend, compared with 87 percent of Democrats.
Nathan Willcox, an energy and clean air advocate for the nonprofit
group PennEnvironment who reviewed the survey results, suggested the
strong support for nuclear energy may be due in part to ''pretty
broad'' questions posed in the survey.
''On something like nuclear power, if you add in the fact that it is
the most expensive and dangerous way of cutting global warming
pollution, I think it changes people's enthusiasm for using it,''
Willcox speculated.
Erica McCabe, 36, of Tatamy, who limits driving and her use of lights,
questions whether the Earth's rising temperature is temporary or
permanent and says science has no way of knowing. She's among 93
percent of poll respondents who want the government to increase vehicle
fuel efficiency standards.
''I do all I can to live environmentally responsibly,'' McCabe said.
''But there's only so much I can do when car companies won't give us
cheap efficient cars and the government won't support research [on
alternative fuels].''
