---
"title": "Americans See Environment as Major Global Problem"
"description": "That's the proportion of Americans who cited environmental problems as a major global threat in a recent Pew Global Attitudes poll, a double-digit increase over the number who did so five years ago but still fewer than in any other advanced industrial country or in China."
"date": "2007-10-12"
"authors":
  -
    "name": "Russell Heimlich"
    "job_title": "Former web developer"
    "link": "https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/staff/russell-heimlich/"
"url": "https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/short-reads/2007/10/12/americans-see-environment-as-major-global-problem/"
---

# Americans See Environment as Major Global Problem

While a recent Pew Global Attitudes survey finds a double-digit increase in the proportion of Americans citing the environmental problems as a major global threat – from 23% to 37% — pollution is still a lower-rated concern in the U.S. than in any other advanced industrial country or in China. In deed, the Chinese are far more likely than Americans to cite environmental problems as a top global danger (70% vs. 37%). In several countries, the proportion viewing environmental degradation as a leading global threat has risen sharply in the past five years. In Brazil, the percentage considering pollution and environmental problems to be a top danger rose from 20% in 2002 to 49% this year; concerns also have risen sharply in Argentina (25 percentage points), France (23 points), and Venezuela (22 points).[Read More](https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/global/reports/display.php?ReportID=256)