Gallup: Fears About Global Warming at 8-Year High

Global warming is becoming a more serious concern among Americans, with fears about the issue reaching near-decade highs — along with rising attitudes that climate change is being caused by activities, a new Gallup poll indicates.

Here are the results, released Wednesday, of latest survey of 1,019 adults, taken March 2-6:

Those saying that they were worried a "great deal" or "fair amount" about global warming:

• 2016: 64 percent.
• 2015: 55 percent.
• 2014: 56 percent.
• 2013: 58 percent.
• 2012: 55 percent.
• 2011: 51 percent.
• 2010: 52 percent.
• 2009: 60 percent.
• 2008: 66 percent.

Those responding that global warming is based on human activities:

• 2016: 65 percent.
• 2015: 55 percent.
• 2014: 57 percent.
• 2013: 57 percent.
• 2012: 53 percent.
• 2011: 52 percent.
• 2010: 50 percent.
• 2009: 57 percent.
• 2008: 58 percent.
• 2007: 61 percent.

"Americans are now expressing record — or near-record — high belief that global warming is happening, as well as concern about the issue," Gallup said in its analysis of the findings.

Several years of unseasonably warm weather, including several recent winters, "has potentially contributed to this shift in attitudes.

"If that's true, continuation of such weather patterns would likely do more than anything politicians and even climate-change scientists can to further raise public concern," Gallup said.

The recent poll has a margin of error of 4 percent.

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