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COLUMBIA, South Carolina, US, May 24, 2006
(Refocus Weekly)
Hunters and anglers in South Carolina believe
global warming is happening, and they want immediate action at both
the state and national level to combat the growing threat.
A poll released by the South Carolina Wildlife Federation says
84% think the U.S. is addicted to oil and the same level do not
think Congress or the Bush administration is doing enough to break
this addiction. Sportsmen in the state believe the U.S. should be a
world leader in addressing global warming and believe that solving
the problem should be a high priority.
“The bad news is, a majority of those polled think this country is
on the wrong track in meeting our national energy needs,” says SCWF
president Angela Viney. “The good news is, they believe we can
improve the environment and strengthen the economy by investing in
clean, renewable energy technologies that create jobs while reducing
global warming pollution.”
The U.S. should rely less on fossil fuels and expand development of
wind, solar, ethanol and other forms of renewables as the best way
to address energy needs, according to 54%, while another 27% says
the U.S. should conserve more, waste less and develop more
fuel-efficient vehicles.
At the state level, 90% of hunters and anglers in South Carolina
support development of a statewide energy policy that encourages
development and use of renewables, while 71% think the state should
implement strategies to help fish and wildlife adapt to a changing
climate.
“Some of South Carolina’s most conservative citizens are witnessing
the effects of global warming and are calling for leadership and
solutions to address it,” says Viney. “They feel we have a moral
responsibility to confront global warming to protect our children's
future.”
The poll, conducted by the SCWF and the National Wildlife
Federation, found that 68% of sportsmen agree that global warming is
an urgent problem requiring immediate action. Two-thirds say global
warming is a serious threat to fish and wildlife, and 71% are
concerned that wildlife and fish population will decrease
significantly or disappear within the next decade.
Annual expenditures for hunting and fishing exceed US$1 billion in
South Carolina, and one in every four residents hunt or fish.
Respondents described themselves as moderate (35%) or conservative
(48%) and 69% voted for George Bush in the last election.
“This poll shows that there is no political drawback in being a
global warming leader in South Carolina. In fact, it shows that it
is a huge political bonus,” says Kathy Stephens of the SCWF. “We
have reached a tipping point in this country where sportsmen’s
voices are joining those of millions of other Americans who see
global warming as a threat and want action to confront it.”
The survey polled 305 hunters and anglers chosen from state lists of
people holding hunting and fishing licenses. The poll has a sampling
error of plus or minus 5.6% at a 95% confidence level.
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