ABSTRACT
This chapter analyzes public opinion on the problem of acid rain. Acid rain is one of a number of environmental problems that has become a hotly debated issue on the governmental agenda of this and many other Western nations. A number of economic, scientific, and political factors help explain why acid rain has emerged as a prominent and controversial public policy issue. In studying acid rain, given the fact that many scientific and policy experts disagree about the basic assumptions of the problem, this problem is a particularly serious one. Basic awareness of acid rain has been examined in almost all the surveys acquired, and the overall results indicate that awareness increased considerably between 1979 and 1984. The seriousness with which the public views acid rain can also be examined within the context of other environmental issues. Surveys comparing concern with acid rain and with social issues also provide additional insight into how the public views this problem.
