By Rob Jordan

The heat waves, massive storms and blackouts that have rolled across the country in recent weeks have not translated into increased concern or support for action on global warming among Americans, according to a poll by Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment Senior Fellow Jon Krosnick and The Washington Post.

Conducted in June, the poll shows that most Americans believe temperatures around the world are going up and that weather patterns have become more unstable in the past few years, but they also express hope that action can be taken to reduce future global warming. While a majority want government action across a range of policies to curb energy consumption, with more support for tax breaks than government mandates, that number has decreased since 2006, according to the survey.

"This survey shows that public belief in the existence and threat of global warming has not declined," Krosnick said.

The Washington Post first publicized the survey in a July 2 story that focused on responses indicating that climate change no longer ranks first on the list of what Americans see as the world’s biggest environmental problem. The newspaper’s July 12 story notes that six in 10 respondents say weather patterns around the world have been more unstable in the past three years than previously, a perception that's changed little since 2006. Nearly as many also say average temperatures were higher during the past three years than before that.

A majority also say that a "great deal" or "good amount" can be done to reduce future global warming. However, 60 percent say it will be extremely or very difficult for people to stop global warming.

When it comes to tools for tackling warming, more than 70 percent of respondents oppose policies that would rely on tax increases on electricity or gas to change individual behavior, while 66 percent favor tax breaks to curb greenhouse gas emissions. Twenty percent, want the government to stay out of regulating greenhouse gases altogether.

Whatever their opinions on government action, nearly half of Americans see President Obama as wanting a "great deal" or "quite a bit" of government action on global warming, while only 11 percent say the same of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney.