From Buenos Aires to Nairobi and Beijing, 77 percent of the population in 21 nations polled by the University of Maryland said their governments should put more emphasis on solar and wind energy systems. Sixty-nine percent said utility companies should be obliged to use more renewable energy sources, “even if this increases the cost of energy in the short run.” Yet, the poll also suggests that an increasing number of people believe that a shift away from fossil fuel toward renewable energy sources offers practical and immediate economic benefits.

“I was struck by the consistency and strength of support,” says Steven Kull, head of the Program on International Policy Attitudes at the University of Maryland. “People think of this as an investment and a transition.” SustainableBusiness.com reports that total new investment in clean energy worldwide rose 4.4 percent during 2008, exceeding the $150 billion mark for the first time.

Source: The Christian Science Monitor