Presentation: James Clifton

Gallup CEO James Clifton gave a presentation of exclusive polling data on energy. Here is a summary.

We don't always take into consideration what the country and the world think. Thomas Jefferson said "we can't expect to be ignorant and free." I'm not sure if he was talking about the general public or the leaders.

29% of the public think the economy is the most important problem facing the country today (read: jobs). 26% healthcare (costs, and relation to jobs), unemployment 15%, dissatisfaction w/ government 10%, federal deficit 9%, Iraq war 8%. Before the economy melted down, the environment was on that list.

Only 20% of the country follow the news on a regular basis; 20% live in total darkness. 60% know what's in their space, but nothing else.Over the years, the will of America has been peace, family, to own your own home. About 20 years ago, we left that and now the great American dream is to have a good job. Everything we address as leaders needs to address that. That translates to the rest of the world - American values become global values. 6.8 billion people aren't thinking about anything else except a good job.

America's biggest fear? Losing their job. If you count the people who've stopped looking for jobs, unemployment may be at about 18%. CEOs don't necessarily know if their companies are laying off -- the people within departments know best.

Global poll: cities resemble cities, not the rest of their countries.

How much do yo uknow about climate change? 48% of sub-Saharan Africa have not heard of it -- 24% worldwide, 41% in Middle East/north Africa.

After you have secondary educatoin, knowledge doubles about climate change.

This is all on Gallup's website -- slides are available.

39% of the world isn't aware of the seriousness of the threat. 67% of the Americas think it's a very/somewhat serious threat, but it doesn't make the list of top problems. It's a leadership problem, not a follower problem. An increasing number of Americans think global warming is "exaggerated" - from 35% to 41%.

The public is willing to trade off doing what's best for the earth for what's best for their jobs. People who favor nuclear energy are increasing. 77% of people think we should increase funding for alternative sources  of energy; 39% think we should increase funding for traditional sources. 53% think the US government is not doing enough to reduce emissions, 44% think we are.

We need our next big thing, but it's hard to see any. The one that's easiest to see is probably energy. Remember, the government discovered the internet, and there's about 1000 private entrepreneurs who made it really work.

Talent follows the money, but until we as leaders creae a new institution ("bait ball") no one will fix it.

Audience questions:

Question: When I think environment, I think economic opportunities. Are people who answer your polls thinking the same way?

I don't think so. When we drill down and ask people about economy, they go straight to their jobs. But that's where we have to get, to where people see environment and the economy together.

Question: Isn't there a big education problem here, too?

I don't think people will get interested in this -- you're going to max out at a level until you're able to tie it into jobs and attract entrepreneurs. People go where the money is. We need hubs where people can go to create energy start-ups.

Question: Are these telephone polls only for people with landlines?

In the West, we call telephones and cell phones -- if our nonresponse bias is under 50% we can correct. In the rest of the world, interviews are done in person. Survey in Iraq is more accurate because there's no non-response bias. You just want everyone to have an equal opportunity of being chosen -- the US probably has the least accurate polling in the world.

We're taking a quick break -- when we come back, strategies to drive investment.

— Sarah Spooner

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