As of October 16, 2013, about 70% of residents in Columbus, Ohio, believe that global warming is happening, while 18% do not. Around 49% believe that if, in fact, global warming is happening, it is being caused mostly by human activity. Of the 70% who believe that global warming is happening, 66% believe that global warming is having a significant impact on the severity of Columbus's heat waves, 51% believe that global warming is influencing droughts, and 50% believe it is influencing the flooding of rivers or lakes. Also, of the 70% who believe that climate change is happening, great majorities indicate that they expect to see a wide scope of negative effects from climate change within the next 50 years: about 91% predict more heat waves, 88% expect worse storms, increased allergies, infectious diseases, asthma, and other health problems, 84% believe that Columbus will see a decrease in the amount of fish and native wildlife, as well as increased droughts and water shortages, and 81% expect more power outages.
As far as addressing global warming, over half of Columbus natives believe that the government should be taking more action to help the cause:
- 61% want more action from Congress
- 57% want more action from Obama
- 57% want more action from state legislators and local officials
- 68% want more action from Columbus's corporations and industries
- 66% want to see more individual involvement in addressing climate change
In conclusion, Columbus residents, while aware of climate change, views it less as an immediate threat, and more as a distant one. For while 70% think that global warming will harm future generations of people, as well as animal and plant life, only 31% believe that climate change will harm them personally.
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