Shown below are the results of the Global Climate Change Survey that was emailed to the members of the DPA. We received 469 responses, representing a response rate of approximately 20% of the total mailing. Thanks to all of you who replied. The accompanying report to this Newsletter includes all of the comments if you are interested in reviewing them.

  1. Does the current 30 +/year warming trend represent a climate crisis?
    1. Yes (11%)
    2. No (65%)
    3. Do not know (24%)
  2. Is Global Climate Change
    1. A serious man-made issue that requires immediate action (6%)
    2. Part of the earth’s natural variation (48%)
    3. An important issue, but we can’t change the weather (3%)
    4. Part natural variation and part man-made (37%)
    5. Other (6%)
  3. Reviewing Figure 1, I believe that the 2 cooling and 2 warming trends that were mentioned are
    1. Clearly evident (40%)
    2. Maybe there (24%)
    3. Some warming and some cooling, but no trend before 1975 (26%)
    4. Don’t know (10%)
    5. Other see report for comments
  4. In the early 1970’s, climate scientists were warning of a climate crisis as a result of global cooling. Is the current warming trend more of a crisis than the cooling trend of 1940 – 1975?
    1. Yes (20%)
    2. No (56%)
    3. Not sure (24%)
  5. I support taking action regarding climate change because
    1. I see global climate change as a significant problem (11%)
    2. I am concerned about pollution and clean energy (50%)
    3. I do not support taking action (39%)
    4. Other see report for comments
  6. I see anthropogenic global warming to be
    1. A serious threat to humanity and the planet (8%)
    2. A scam and a fraud (15%)
    3. A possibility, but I’m not sure how significant a role humans have played (32%)
    4. Not likely as I believe climate change is a natural phenomena (32%)
    5. A concern we should continue to examine (14%)
    6. Other see report for comments
  7. If you feel that some actions are necessary to mitigate global climate change, how far should these actions go
    1. Restrict personal driving and home air conditioning (0.3%)
    2. Improve mass transit & develop clean energy alternatives such as nuclear (76%)
    3. Increase fees and taxes to fund government-based solutions (1%)
    4. Provide tax-incentives to drive less and use less energy (23%)
    5. Other see report for comments
  8. I would like AAPG’s position on Climate Change to
    1. state that the global warming observed since 1975 is human caused (4%)
    2. state that the global warming observed since 1975 is not human caused (15%)
    3. state that over time, the climate changes frequently and that humans played only a partial role in the latest warming trend (66%)
    4. be in gen. agreement with the Climate Change statements of other Societies (4%)
    5. I would prefer AAPG not issue a position on Climate Change (12%)
    6. Other see report for comments
  9. I would like AAPG’s position on Climate Change to
    1. call for a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (4%)
    2. call for development of alternative energy sources (12%)
    3. call for conservation of fossil fuels (8%)
    4. A and B (5%)
    5. A, B, and C (41%)
    6. Call for no human intervention as climate is a natural process (30%)
    7. Other see report for comments