Obama can take comfort in climate change survey

The climate conference in Copenhagen was neither a total failure nor a resounding success. There were no concrete steps taken to deal with global warming, but the rich and poor countries signaled a willingness to cooperate.

Not surprisingly, President Obama, who used his global popularity to prevent the conference from being a total disaster, tried to put a positive spin on what was accomplished. But the American people aren’t buying.

What is noteworthy, however, is that Americans do believe climate change is a serious problem. According to an Associated Press-Stanford University poll, three out of every four respondents said future generations will be harmed if nothing is done to reverse global warming.

The poll results will not only bolster President Obama’s commitment to address climate change domestically and globally but will give political cover to the Democratic-controlled Congress that is considering legislation to reduce heat-trapping pollution.

Greenhouse gases

The House has passed a bill that deals with the greenhouse gases, mainly carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels, but the measure is stalled in the Senate.

But while Democrat Obama and the Democratic Congress may find solace in the poll results, they cannot ignore the fact that Americans see the economy as the most serious problem facing the world, as the poll reveals.

That means any effort to reduce greenhouse gases will have to consider the job-loss implications. That’s why many members of Congress are treading cautiously. With the national economy still sputtering — people who are unemployed or underemployed aren’t impressed with the jobless recovery — any move that costs jobs will be met with strong opposition from the American people.

President Obama, in pushing for legislation to address global warming, must be clear in explaining how the greening of America will result in jobs that pay wages comparable to those in traditional industries that would be affected by the change.

It will not be an easy sell.