Climate Polling

In BBC polling surrounding the Copenhagen conference, 81 percent of Mexicans polled said that global warming represents a very serious problem, 23 points higher than the figure for Canadians and 36 points higher than that of American respondents. Seventy-one percent of Mexicans support strong government action to combat global warming even if it harms the economy (roughly equal to the Canadian and about 20 points higher than the American figure), but only 38 percent support a strong role from the Mexican government in Copenhagen.

Mexico City pollster Dan Lund offers some analysis:

Mexican public opinion does not seem to have a deep understanding of the problem, nor a high level of confidence in the government. Mexicans drop 10 points from an identification of the problem as serious to support government policies even if it hurts, and drop 43 points from identification of the problem to urging strong action in Copenhagen. This is an indication that the notion of climate change is still superficial to Mexicans.

Other studies tend to indicate that Mexico has a tolerance for the “acts of God” and bad weather. While Mexicans often seem unable to remember a time when wild weather changes were not a part of the natural order, they also seem ready to embrace the well publicized and seemingly rational notions of climate change.

As far as the 38 percent thinking the Mexican government should play a strong role in the conference, I imagine that much of the discrepancy is also caused by a lack of confidence in the Mexican government in international forums, rather than a rejection toward an assertive approach in the abstract. In other words, there should be strong action, but it shouldn't be led by the Mexican government.