Poll: fewer believe in global warming

WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - Well we had some interesting weather this year. This summer started off wet and cool with much above normal rainfall for the month of June. We saw a heat wave in the middle of August but that was about it for the really hot weather.

This fall has seen some interesting weather as well. Just last week we saw some winter like temperatures and even a little snow.

Despite the strange weather this year it's hard to say it's linked to climate change.

A recent Pew Research Poll showed that in 2006, 77 percent of Americans believed in global warming and now in 2009 just 57 percent of people believe world temperatures are rising.

Some say the lower numbers are a result of politics, misinformation, people mixing up weather and climate and people focusing more on the economy and on other things.

22News spoke to western Massachusetts residents to see how they feel right now about climate change.

Jennie Morris of West Springfield said, “Yeah I believe in global warming and I think the crazy weather that we're having now is an effect of that... and I'm afraid it's going to effect my children when they're older so we try and do our part and go green here and there.”

“I'm kind of swaying to believing that it has something to do with the weather because we're seeing all the ice melting so I think there is something to it,” said Virginia Buteau of West Springfield.

“All I know is that I can see what's happening and there is a change. I don't understand why there is a change and if other people don't want to think that way, shame on them,” stated Rick Fontaine of Westfield.

Now it's worth noting that half of the people that responded to the recent poll said they did support limits on greenhouse gases, even if they could lead to higher energy prices.