It's hot as hell in NY today so I thought I'd go sit in the AC and watch Al Gore's new movie tonight. The irony of that statement isn't lost on me. Ive been meaning to see this movie for some time...so tonight is the night.
Here's some interesting data from a blog I read regularly:
A poll carried carried out for the BBC World Service of nearly 20,000
people from across 19 countries found wide support for alternative
energy strategies.
The poll illustrates a perceived triple threat from the way the world produces and uses energy.
Majorities across all 19 countries indicate that citizens fear:
the climate and environment are being harmed
that the global economy will be destabilised
that competition for energy will lead to greater conflict
Some eight out of 10 of those questioned were worried about the
threat to the environment. In Australia, Great Britain, Canada and
Italy the level of concern topped 90%.
Doug Miller, president of the poll firm GlobeScan, said: "What's
fascinating is that in the midst of historically high energy prices and
geopolitical tensions, the number one energy concern in every
industrialised country we surveyed is the environmental and climate
impacts."
Creating tax incentives to encourage the use of alternative energy
sources such as wind and solar power found favour with 80% of
respondents.
But there was lukewarm support for more nuclear energy to reduce
reliance on fossil fuels. On average, 49% were in favour of building
more nuclear plants.
Majorities of 60% or more in 18 of the 19 countries polled said
they feared energy shortages and prices would destabilise the world
economy.
The least concerned was Russia, a major oil and gas producer, which benefits from higher prices.
Both US and EU leaders have warned Russia not to use energy as a
tool of foreign policy. Earlier this year, the nation's monopoly,
Gazprom, cut off gas supplies to Europe during a price dispute with
Ukraine.
Some 73% of those questioned were worried that energy shortages would lead to greater conflict among nations.
In total, 19,579 citizens were interviewed in Australia, Brazil,
Canada, Chile, Egypt, France, Germany, Great Britain, India, Israel,
Italy, Kenya, Mexico, Philippines, Poland, Russia, South Korea, Ukraine
and the US.
Polling was conducted for the BBC World Service by polling firm GlobeScan and its research partners.
