Climate change concerns

More people than not — 51 percent — say “climate change is already harming people around the world, while another 28 percent believe it will do so in the next few years,” according to a new Pew Research Poll.

Latin America (77 percent), Europe (60 percent), Africa (52 percent), Asia/Pacific (48), the United States (41 percent) and the Middle East (26 percent) say climate change is a serious problem.

The top concern is drought (global median, 44 percent), followed by severe weather (25 percent), unusually hot weather (14 percent) and rising sea levels (6 percent).

Brazilians (90 percent) are most concerned. Countries with the highest carbon dioxide emissions, such as China and the U.S., apparently have fewer concerns.

In the U.S., 24 percent of Republicans, 41 percent of independents and 53 percent of Democrats believe global warming is hurting people.

What do you think? Email connie.post@coxinc.com.

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