Just this week, the U.S. was announced as the leading producer of oil in the world. It beat out Saudi Arabia and all the other countries in the world. The U.S. is also the world leader in climate change denial. It’s a terrifying combination that leaves much of the world vulnerable to our lumbering ways.
Marketing data from the U.K. group Ipsos Mori shows that the U.S. is leading the civilized world in climate change denial. Only 54 percent of Americans are on board with the overwhelming global scientific position that the climate change that is being seen and experienced is the result of human activity. China, according to the study, blows America out of the water with a 93 percent consensus that climate change is the result of human actions.
The U.S. is also dangerously unconcerned with the effects of climate change. Over 42 percent of Americans aren’t concerned with climate change effects. In fact, many of them probably take the position that even if climate change is taking place – even if it is real – the resulting environment and weather effects won’t be that bad.
The United States is a leader in policy and has a strong persuasive effect in the world.
We now produce over 11 millions barrels of oil a day and consume nearly 19 million barrels. Our carbon footprint is on the rise again and denial of the issues won’t help anything. The environment won’t stop just because right-wing talk show hosts ignore what’s going on in the world. After several years of decline, the U.S.’s CO2 emissions are up again.
We can’t afford to keep ignoring this problem.
Joshua is a writer and researcher with Ring of Fire. You can follow him on Twitter @Joshual33.
