一項2008年6月份進行的線上調查顯示，大部分美國人表示，對他們來說經濟成長與開發比環境保護更重要。
一項6月9日至16日對2454位18歲以上成人所進行的哈里斯線上調查（Harris Poll，譯註：由美國知名獨立調查機構哈里斯互動公司Harris Interactive所長期執行的獨立民調）結果顯示，在經濟狀況持續惡化的情況下，民眾在面對保護環境或是經濟成長與開發的抉擇時，比較傾向以經濟成長為重。
5個人中有超過3個（即63%）表示，對他們來說，經濟成長與開發較為重要，而其他1/4的人（27%）相信保護環境比較重要。
然而，還是有很多民調結果（包括較早之前的一些哈里斯調查）顯示民眾非常強烈支持強化環境保護及規範。
哈里斯互動公司7月30日的聲明也指出：「大部分民眾不認為經濟發展與環境保護之間僅存有替代關係，事實上，很多民眾相信我們不僅僅能兼顧兩面，也應該雙向進行。」
過去一年，強調經濟成長比環境保護重要的受訪者比例持續成長。在2007年6月所執行的一次類似的哈里斯調查顯示，僅有約少於半數（48%）的民眾認為經濟成長較為重要，而有43％民眾相信保護環境更重要。同年11月所進行的哈里斯調查中有51%民眾相信經濟成長比較重要，而有37%民眾較支持環境保護。
美國居民對他們社區發展趨勢的看法相當兩極。38%的民眾表示情勢發展正朝向正確的方向，而37%的人相信情勢已經「相當嚴重地向錯誤的方向前進」。
這個看法在過去7個月之間已經產生變化了。在2007年7月，類似的哈里斯調查中幾乎有一半（47%）的受訪者覺得他們的社區正走向錯誤的路，而1/3（32%）的人覺得他們的正走向對的方向。
再來看更近期的結果，約有超過半數（56%）的美國成人相信他們的生活品質在下一代及下下一代時將會降低，而44%的人相信生活品質將會提升。
較年輕的一代對此則抱持較樂觀的想法。超過半數（56%）年齡在18-31歲回聲潮時代出生的人（Echo Boomers，譯註：出生於1970年代末到1990年代初期的嬰兒潮世代）相信生活品質會提昇，相較之下僅有38%年齡在44-62歲嬰兒潮世代的人（Baby Boomers，譯註：出生於1947年到1961年二次世界大戰結束後的嬰兒潮世代）及1/3年齡在63歲以上的人有同樣的想法。
在加拿大，民眾對於這些議題的某些部分有不一樣的看法。加拿大人對於經濟及環境何者較重要的看法更平均，也就是說45%的人表示經濟成長與開發較重要，44%的人相信保護環境更重要。
加拿大人對於他們社區發展方向持較正面的看法。63%的人相信他們社區是朝正確的方向發展，37%的人則認為他們走的路是錯的。
在下一代及下下一代的生活品質議題上，加拿大人與美國人都有同樣的看法。56%的加拿大人表示後代的生活品質會降低，而44%的人認為會提昇。美國居民的看法比例也是相同的。
A majority of Americans who responded to a June online survey say economic growth and development is more important to their region than environmental protection.
A Harris Poll conducted online among 2,454 adults aged 18 and over between June 9 and 16 found that as economic conditions worsen, people who are asked to make a decision between protecting the environment or economic growth and development have moved more strongly into the economic growth column.
More than three in five (63 percent) say economic growth and development is more important to their region while one-quarter (27 percent) believe protecting the environment is more important.
Still, many polls, including earlier Harris Polls, show very strong support for strengthening environmental protections and regulations.
Also, said Harris Interactive in a statement today, "most people do not see the hard trade off between economic development and protecting the environment. In fact, many people believe that we not only can do both of these, but that we should be doing both."
The emphasis on economic growth over environmental protection has grown during the last year.
In a similar Harris survey conducted in June 2007, just under a majority (48 percent) thought economic growth was more important while 43 percent believed protecting the environment was more important.
In a November Harris survey, a 51 percent majority said they believed economic growth was more important, while 37 percent favored environmental protection.
U.S. respondents are divided evenly on how they perceive the direction of events in their own community - 38 percent say things are going in the right direction while 37 percent believe things have "pretty seriously gotten off on the wrong track."
This perception has changed over the past seven months. In November, almost half (47 percent) of respondents to a similar Harris poll felt things were going off on the wrong track in their community and one-third (32 percent) felt they were going in the right direction.
Looking ahead to the future, just over half of U.S. adults (56 percent) believe that the quality of life in the area where they live will decrease for their children and grandchildren while 44 percent believe it will increase.
Younger generations are more optimistic on this point. More than half (56 percent) of Echo Boomers aged 18-31 believe the quality of life will increase compared to 38 percent of Baby Boomers aged 44-62 and one-third of those aged 63 and older.
In Canada, there are different opinions on some of these topics. Canadians are more evenly split on which is more important, economics or environment - 45 percent say economic growth and development are more important while 44 percent believe protecting the environment is of greater importance.
Canadians are more positive about the direction of their community as 63 percent believe things in their community are going in the right direction and 37 percent say they are going off on the wrong track.
One area in which Canadians and Americans agree is the quality of life in their region for children and grandchildren. Fifty-six percent of Canadians say it will decrease and 44 percent believe it will increase - the same percentages hold true for American respondents.
全文及圖片詳見：ENS
作者
In my healing journey and learning to attain the breath awareness, I become aware of the reality that all the creatures of the world are breathing the same breath. Take action, here and now. From my physical being to the every corner of this out of balance's planet.
