African Americans and Climate Change

The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies recently released the results of a survey suggesting that a majority of African Americans believe climate change is a growing problem that both government and individuals should take action now to mitigate the potential impacts.

According to a report released by the Joint Center:

• While African Americans are underrepresented in the public debates on climate change and
  environmental issues generally, they are as aware of these issues as other groups in American
  society, and committed to action–both personal and governmental–to deal with the problems
  associated with climate change.
• A majority of African Americans believe climate change (and global warming) is a major problem,
  and they believe that global warming will have significant negative effects on public health and
  economic instability through severe weather events.
• A majority believe these problems will be worse for future generations.
• Majorities of African Americans believe government at all levels can take actions to limit these problems. They also believe individuals can help mitigate the effects of climate change–and a majority of them recycle and purchase energy saving appliances and light bulbs, while nearly half of them purchased products in the last year that were better for the environment even though the products were more costly than similar non environmentally.

 Other key findings in the survey include:

• Majorities of respondents thought climate change is already causing –or will soon cause –worsening public health (59 percent), economic instability (61 percent), increasing flooding, fires, and droughts (60 percent), and energy dependence (64 percent). Even larger majorities thought these would be problems for future generations if climate change is not stopped.
• A majority of African Americans (59 percent) believe environmental conditions will be worse for future generations, while only one-in-six believe environmental conditions will be better.
• With regard to their electric bills, a solid majority of African Americans (61 percent) are willing to pay an additional $10 per month to fight global warming, while 30 percent were willing to pay an additional $25 per month and 16 percent were willing to pay an additional $50 per month.
• While opposition to gas tax increases is strong, a solid majority of African Americans (63 percent) believe that people they know would be willing to change their driving habits or drive less to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Okay.  We certainly weren’t one of the 750 surveyed, especially about increasing our electric and gas bills! 

Would you be willing to chip in from the greater, greener good?

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