American Acceptance of Global Warming Retreats in Wake of Winter 2014

The winter of 2014 took its toll on many aspects of life in the United States. From individual level costs such as increased heating expenses and disrupted work schedules to broad economic effects including strained public works budgets and slower than expected growth in gross domestic product, the generally cold and snowy winter left a substantial impact on the lives of many Americans. Along with the numerous economic and fiscal effects the last winter left behind has been an erosion in public acceptance of the existence of global warming. In the wake of winter 2014 Americans are less likely to say that there is solid evidence of global warming than at any point measured since the spring of 2011. These are among the key findings of the latest round of the National Surveys on Energy and Environment (NSEE) from the University of Michigan and Muhlenberg College