Americans are more likely to believe that climate crisis is a threat after experiencing recent extreme weather| Weather

Kenneth Runnels does not see himself as a victim of the drought. He claims he is an “adapter”.

Runnels is Antelope Point Marina’s chief administrator. Lake Powell, which is the second-largest country reservoir and a large part of the Colorado River systemThe West is home to more than 40,000,000 people.

Powell’s water level has dropped to a record low after decades of drought. unimaginable lowsRunnels’ business as well as the millions of people who depend on the lake’s waters, are at risk.

Runnels was forced to make rapid changes to the plummeting water levelHe has devised new routes to get from bank to water. CNN was informed by him that he is currently working to obtain another permit to lower access point 20 feet further.

According to scientists, Lake Powell has lost nearly 100 feet over the past two year. Worst multiyear drought in at most 12 centuries. Runnels blames a variety of factors for the low water levels. More people are using Colorado River water than it can sustain. He also said that he sees the effects of climate change.

Runnels said, “I have seen it come down and come back up, come up again and go down,” “Never to this degree.”

A Gallup pollCNN first shared this information with them. It was found that 1 in 3 Americans have been affected in the past 2 years by extreme weather, and those who were most affected were much more likely say the climate crisis poses a threat. Gallup estimates that approximately 6 million people were impacted by drought during this time.

Gallup asked their respondents for their first ever environment poll about their experiences with extreme weather. It found 78% of respondents who have faced recent extreme weather — like the West’s megadroughtThe Texas deep freeze, Ida is one of the most destructive hurricanes. — believe the effects of climate change are already unfolding, compared to 51% who had not.

Gallup senior editor Jeffrey Jones stated to CNN that people are seeing this happening more across the country. It’s definitely influencing their view of the (climate) problem.”

While Democrats were more likely to report being impacted by extreme weather — 45% to 20% — the poll found, regardless of political party affiliation, respondents who had been affected were more likely to be concerned about the climate crisis.

Gallup reported that Republicans and Republican-leaners are less likely than their Democratic counterparts to be concerned about climate change. However, there was a 15 point gap in climate concern between those (28%) who had been affected by extreme events and those (13%) who hadn’t.

Jones stated that extreme weather events are more common than ever. They are receiving a lot of attention in the news and, within that discussion, they are saying that this is evidence of climate changes.”

Jones said that the survey, which was done in March, showed how people struggle to grasp the gravity and impact of the crisis until it reaches them.

Gallup found that people in the South and West were more likely to report having experienced an extreme event than those in the East and Midwest. A majority of those who claimed to have experienced such an event listed extreme cold or hurricane, winter storm, or extreme heat.

The most frequently reported events in the West were wildfires and extreme heat.

“These data suggest that many people starting to realize climate isn’t just warming, but it’s becoming more variable which is really bad for agriculture, water supply, industry and so many other crucial aspects of our lives,” Jennifer Marlon, a Yale School of the Environment climate scientist, told CNN.

Marlon said it is encouraging that more people are beginning to see the connection between extreme weather events and global warming.

“The next question is: Do people realize that burning coal, oil, and methane gas are what causes chaotic severe weather?” Marlon posed.

On Monday, The UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change issued a warningThe world must immediately shift away from fossil fuels to renewable energy like solar and wind. Limit the impact of climate crisis — otherwise, the West is destined for more drought and heat, the oceans will continue to inundate coastal communities and extreme weather will become more deadly than it already is.

Gallup’s survey respondents believe that human activity is to blame for Earth warming over the past century. However, 45% of respondents believe that global warming poses a threat during their lifetime. 54% disagree.