A poll released yesterday in Australia shows that the nation's number one concern is the environment. The poll found that 19 percent of Australians named the environment as their top issue. The economy followed shortly after with 18 percent, water management drew 8 percent, interest rates and housing both received 7 percent.

The poll, conducted by the Australian National University, interviewed 1,000 respondents. The results were even more surprising when interviewees were asked what would be the biggest issue in five years time: 30 percent of Australians cited the environment, and 20 percent the economy.

This comes soon after a poll where China listed the environment as the nation's fourth concern after health care, employment, and the income-gap. In a nation-wide poll of 3,001 respondents, 10.2 percent stated that the environment was the largest issue in China.

In these recent polls, both Australia and China show more concern for the environment than Americans. According to a March NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll only 4 percent of Americans viewed the environment as their top concern. It was seventh most important issue in the poll (out of eight issues total). Other recent polls in America have not listed the environment as an option.

In 2007, Australians elected Kevin Rudd as Prime Minister. Rudd has listed global warming as one of his administrations top concerns: on his first day as Prime Minister he signed the Kyoto Protocol.

(Por Jeremy Hance, mongabay.com, 17/04/2008)