The Connection Between Jimmy Buffett and Attitudes on Global Warming

Slowly but surely, attitudes about global warming among the American public are beginning to more closely reflect those held by scientists.  Regardless of one’s personal views on the subject, the last five years has seen an increase in awareness of the public about this issue.  Yes, we know a lot of people have an opinion about this topic, and it’s a passionate one for some. When you Google “attitudes about global warming” you get 615,000 hits!

 Still, as the country’s population becomes younger and the baby-boomers are replaced by the youthful millennials as the nation’s largest generation group, most polls now are showing a majority of us believe “climate change is occurring.”

 We cite one such poll done by the University of Texas, Austin.  Its results indicated 76% of respondents felt we are experiencing climate change.  That represents 3 out of every 4 people surveyed!  And, this survey included respondents of both political parties.

 While the school has been polling public opinion regarding climate change since 2012, the latest poll reveals two statistics that are particularly revealing:

• There was a 68% increase (over last year) in consensus that global warming is taking place.

• The percentage of Americans who deny climate change flat-out also dropped in the latest findings, from 22 percent in 2012 to 14 percent.

 Clearly, public opinion is shifting regarding climate change.

 So, you might be wondering what the connection is between changing attitudes on global warming and the songwriter Jimmy Buffett.  It was his groundbreaking album of 1977 that included the ever-popular song Margaritaville.  The name of the album was “Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes.”

 If I can use the analogy, we are undergoing a similar change in attitudes in America about global warming.