Green Think

I was inspired and uplifted, and then my hopes were dashed.

Last month, hundreds of thousands of people across the globe gathered for an International Day of Climate Change. They marched, turned down thermostats, hung banners, recycled and took pictures of themselves doing these and hundreds of other things to support the 350.org cause.

More than 5,200 gatherings across 181 countries marked the event the weekend of Oct. 24. The 350 movement is the brainchild of author and activist Bill McKibben. That's 350 as in 350 parts per million of CO2 in the atmosphere, the level above which significant climate change becomes more likely.

Honestly, the 350 number is symbolic, and the symbolism may be unreachable for a long, long time. We're at about 387 and climbing right now. Experts involved in climate-change public policy in the United States, United Nations and Europe realize that getting back to 350 isn't the immediate goal. Slowing the increase is the first step. Still, it is heartening to see the energy and interest behind the idea.

Or at least it was heartening, until I read the new poll by the Pew Research Center.

Just as the evidence for global warming has grown to become irrefutable, just as the poles are seeing measurable and dangerous climate-related changes, the American public is less interested and less convinced.

Why? You can blame the national obsession with the health-care debate, the cooler-than-usual summer weather, the recession, the rise of the "Tea Party" movement. Whatever the reason, the decline is alarming. The poll found that: "57% of Americans think there is solid evidence that the average temperature on earth has been getting warmer over the past few decades. In April 2008, 71% said there was solid evidence of rising global temperatures."

There is a bit of good news within the poll. Although the trend is still down, more than half of our population believes we should join in international efforts to control greenhouse gas emission. Let's hope that provides enough political will to keep the US in a leadership role, or at least a constructive role, as the world gathers in Copenhagen for the UN Climate Change Conference next month.