Geopolitical Climate Change
June 29th, 2007 by Carbon CoalitionThe results of the latest Pew Global Attitudes Project should be disconcerting for any U.S. citizen. The Pew Research Center measured the favorability rating of the United States abroad by surveying more than 45,000 people in 46 countries around the world from April 16 through May 29.
Though the U.S. held favorable majorities in 25 of 46 countries, comparing the 2007 results to 2002 was scary. Sympathy for the United States in the post 9/11 year may have boosted the 2002 numbers a little bit. That being said, the study found large drops in favorability with some of our oldest and closest allies. To our neighbors in Canada, we are 17% less popular. This is a significant drop, but far less than some of our European allies. We are 24% less well liked with Britain, 23% less with France, and 30% less in Germany than we were in 2002.
Here in New Hampshire, what immediately comes to mind after reading these drops in international popularity is an issue that affects the everyday lives of the entire international community, climate change. Our precious winters are getting shorter, hurting key industries in the North Country like skiing and maple sugar, production was down 6% this year and 25% in Maine (For more figures click here.) The Pew survey’s findings reflect a populous world opinion about the worlds leading emitter. The study also found that “concern about global warming has soared in the last five years. Most respondents agree that the environment is in trouble and most blame the United States, and to a much more limited degree, China, according to the survey” (For more on the study click here).
Presidential candidates should seize this major opportunity to improve our international standing by discussing this climate change and outlining their own climate change action plans. New Hampshire citizens can foster a global warming discussion within the state’s Presidential Primary discourse and perhaps help to recapture our favorable world stature. Check our candidate calendar for upcoming events and start asking questions.
