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Cooling Concerns: The Shifting Climate of Public Opinion on Global Warming

By Dr. Matthew Wielicki

A recent Monmouth University poll highlights a decline in the American public's 
sense of urgency about climate change, especially among younger adults. 
[emphasis, links added]

While 73% still believe climate change is happening, less than half now see it 
as a very serious problem.

This decline is most pronounced among the younger demographic, with only 50% of 
18 to 34-year-olds viewing it as a very serious issue, down from 67% in 2021.

This shift could show a growing skepticism and a reprioritization of immediate 
concerns such as economic pressures. 

The poll also notes a decrease in support for government action on climate 
change, with 59% in favor of more federal intervention, a drop from past years. 
This waning support coincides with a diminished perception of climate change as 
an urgent crisis.

Given the evolution of climate science, it's critical to distinguish between 
substantive metrics and those used primarily to push a narrative of impending 
catastrophe.

For instance, while metrics like the Earth Energy Imbalance and various climate 
indices are valuable for understanding changes in the climate system, they come 
with significant uncertainties. These uncertainties often overlap with the 
claimed magnitude of the changes, which could lead to overestimations of the 
impact.

Furthermore, the narrative that supports drastic climate action often overlooks 
the substantial improvements in human resilience to climate-related disasters 
over the past century.

Despite a significant increase in global population and industrial activity, 
the proportion of climate-related deaths has decreased dramatically, indicating 
enhanced adaptability and mitigation capabilities.

The data presented below provides a compelling backdrop to the recent Monmouth 
University poll findings regarding climate change urgency.

The infographic highlights that there has been no significant increase in the 
number of hydrological, meteorological, and climatological disasters since 
2000, no substantial rise in deaths from these disasters, and no significant 
uptick in their economic cost as a percentage of global GDP.

This stable trend suggests that the decrease in perceived urgency and 
importance among the American public, especially younger adults, may be 
influenced by an observable lack of escalation in the direct impacts of climate 
change. Such data can lead to skepticism or reduced concern, aligning with the 
poll's finding that fewer people now see climate change as a very serious 
problem. This reinforces the view that while climate change is acknowledged, 
the catastrophic consequences often highlighted in media and political rhetoric 
may not resonate with the empirical evidence observed over the past two 
decades.

When placed in the broader context, this polling data suggests a possible 
realignment of public opinion towards a more measured and data-driven approach 
to climate policy. It highlights the importance of focusing on direct human and 
economic impacts rather than abstract indices that may not reliably indicate 
imminent disaster.

As public sentiment shifts, it might be time to reassess how we discuss and 
prioritize climate change in policy debates, ensuring that actions are 
proportionate to the actual, measurable impacts rather than driven by alarmist 
narratives. 

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May:

Heavy May Snow Hits the Sierra Nevada

Concordia Below -70C (-94F) for 10-Days

Cooling In The Tropical Pacific

Vostok's Coldest April Since 1999

Global Temperature Expected To Fall In May

Tonga Eruption Responsible For Toasty 2023 (nyah nyah!)

Missing Spring In Jackson, WY

Cool Summer Forecast For Much Of The Northern Hemisphere

Record May Cold Sweeps India

Rare April Cold Hits Antarctica (-112F)

Heavy Spring Snow Traps 1,000 Vehicles In Northern India

Wild Swings In New Jersey

The Wind Didn't Blow As Hard In 2023

April:

(An end of snow) Avalanche Hits Kashmir
Mid-May Frosts Forecast For Europe
Prairies Plantings To See Snow Delay
UK Breaks Long-Standing Cold Record
Heavy Spring Snow Sweeps Northern India
Antarctica To -77C (-106.6F)
Another Meter Of Snow Hits The Alps
Europe's Crop Losses Worsen - "The Biggest Disaster Of The Last 100 Years"
Frost Damage Reported From France To Ukraine
Growers In Canada And Northeast Also Suffer
Australia To Shiver Into May, Defying BoM Predictions 
Record Cold Strikes Northern Ontario
Rare April Snow Continues Across Europe
Europe Breaks Historic Low Temperature Records As Rare Spring Snow Falls on 
Major Cities
Norwegian Ski Resort on For Bumper Summer Season
Europe Freezes
No Spring In Sight For Much of Russia
Temperatures Are Falling Globally
Feet of Spring Snow Pound Colorado
U.S. Braces For Record April Cold
Socal's Back-To-Back Bumper Snow Seasons
Cold And Snow To Persist Into May Across Europe
Scabbard on For Cold April
Switzerland's Snow Matches Historic 1974-75 Season
Heavy Snow Slams Northwestern Iran
Europe Braces For Spring Freeze
Another Three Avalanche Deaths In The Alps
Indian State Suffers Coldest April Day on Record
Today's Arctic Sea Ice Extent Matches 1996
Snow Remains In Northern India
54 Spots
NZ's Record-Cold March
Rare April Snow Hits Bay Area
More Snow For Midwest/New
Scandinavia Extends Historic Cold Spell, As Europe Sets Snow Records
Feet Of Spring Snow Pound Colorado
Southern Cal's Back-To-Back Bumper Snow Seasons
Svalbard On For Cold April
Indian State Suffers Coldest April Day On Record
The Arctic Was Warmer In The 1920s
Germany Regrets Disbanding Nuclear Plants, It Was A "Mistake"
Yukon Snowpack Breaks Records
Early Snows Hit Australia's Ski Fields
It's Still Snowing On Kilimanjaro... Al Gore Was Wrong (as usual)
Alyeska Exceeds 700 Inches
Rare April Snow Hits Boise
Montreal's Snowiest April Since 2010
Clearing Crews Reach Baralacha
Antarctica At -75.8C (-104.4F)
Alta Posts Rare Back-To-Back 600+ Inch Winters
Indian Army Rescues 80 Trapped By Spring Snowfall
Remarkable Antarctic Sea Ice Recovery
April Nor'Easter Drops Feet Of Snow
600,000 Lose Power As 'Spring' Storm Batters Quebec
Avalanche Hits Helicopter In The Alps, Killing 3
Scandinavia Breaks Historic Low Temperature Stretch
New Zealand's Record-Cold March
Rare April Snow To Dust Bay Area Peaks
More Snow For The Midwest/Northeast
Scandinavia Extends Spell Of Historic April Cold, As Europe's Mountain Snow 
reaks Records
Sweden Sets Coldest April Temperature
Swiss Avalanche Kills 3
Utah Snowpack At 132%, California Defies The 'Experts'
Anchorage Only 6.3" Away From All-Time Record
Colder-Than-Average March At Vostok
Antarctica Dips Below -100F
"Significant Spring Snowstorm" Takes Aim At Canada/Northern US
April Snow Builds Across Europe's Higher Elevations