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US Adults Want More Environmental Protection
Three quarters of US adults agree that 'protecting the environment is so important that requirements and standards cannot be too high' and that 'continuing environmental improvements must be made regardless of cost'. The figure comes from the latest Harris Interactive poll, which finds the public more pro-environment than in 2000.
The survey, which was conducted prior to hurricanes Katrina and Rita, finds that:- 47% agree that 'there is too little government regulation and involvement in the area of environmental protection' - up from 39% in 2000. 32% say it is about right, and 19% believe there is too much regulation.
- The proportion of adults agreeing that it is important to protect the environment regardless of cost has increased (to 74% from 66% in 2000), but a significant proportion (25%) disagrees.
- According to respondents, water pollution and air pollution should be the top environmental priorities for the nation. The second tier of priorities includes global warming, ozone depletion, and depletion of forest lands, while recycling is seen as less important.
- A majority of respondents (58%) describe themselves as sympathetic to environmental concerns, while 12% say they are active environmentalists, 4% are unsympathetic, and 24% are 'neutral'.
- 71% feel large corporations are 'doing less than their share to help reduce environmental problems', and 63% believe the general public are also doing less than they should.
The results come from a telephone poll of a cross-section of 1,217 adults, conducted between August 9 and 16, 2005.
The company is online at www.harrisinteractive.com.
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