Thursday, April 12, 2007

Californians Agree on Warming

Latest surveys reveal stance.

Warming is serious, say Californians
By Peter Hecht - Bee Capitol Bureau
Published 12:00 am PDT Thursday, April 12, 2007


In the state where Al Gore picked up his Oscar and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger became an action figure fighting greenhouse gases, Californians overwhelming believe global warming is a serious problem, according to a Field Poll released Wednesday.

Eight in 10 California voters in the poll expressed concerns about global warming blamed for climate change. Some 56 percent said the problem is "very serious" and 25 percent said it is "somewhat serious."

Only one in six voters in the poll (17 percent) said they didn't believe global warming is a problem.

The poll, based on a March 20-31 telephone survey of 523 California registered voters, was released as Schwarzenegger made a keynote address at an Environment Leadership Conference at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.

While the governor declared, "Global warming is real, and we have to do something about it," the Field Poll indicated Californians strongly agree.