Poll: Economy More Important Than Environment to Americans
Posted on July 31, 2008
A majority of Americans who responded to a June online survey say economic growth and development is more important to their region than environmental protection.A Harris Poll conducted online among 2,454 adults aged 18 and over between June 9 and 16 found that as economic conditions worsen, people who are asked to make a decision between protecting the environment or economic growth and development have moved more strongly into the economic growth column.
More than three in five (63 percent) say economic growth and development is more important to their region while one-quarter (27 percent) believe protecting the environment is more important.
Still, many polls, including earlier Harris Polls, show very strong support for strengthening environmental protections and regulations.
Also, said Harris Interactive in a statement today, “most people do not see the hard trade off between economic development and protecting the environment. In fact, many people believe that we not only can do both of these, but that we should be doing both.”
The emphasis on economic growth over environmental protection has grown during the last year.
In a similar Harris survey conducted in June 2007, just under a majority (48 percent) thought economic growth was more important while 43 percent believed protecting the environment was more important.
In a November Harris survey, a 51 percent majority said they believed economic growth was more important, while 37 percent favored environmental protection.
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