Americans believe in climate change risks but won't pay to fix them – survey

(Guardian UK) Americans are fatalistic when it comes to climate change, recognising the dangers but unwilling to pay for sea walls or relocate coastal communities, new research released on Thursday found.

The survey, commissioned by two departments at Stanford University, the Woods Institute for the Environment and the Center for Ocean Solutions, was the first to investigate public attitudes towards planning for a future of sea-level rise and extreme storms.

It found a sharp disconnect between Americans' acknowledgement of climate risks – which was high – and their willingness to pay for solutions.

That divide could hurt efforts by New York governor Andrew Cuomo and New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg to mobilise large sums of public money to build sea walls, restore sand dunes, or move people out of harm's way after superstorm Sandy. .................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/mar/28/americans-climate-change-risk-cost