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The latest Rasmussen Reports poll of voters gauging their opinions on global warming reflects Americans are growing more skeptical of the manmade climate change theory. Whether a reflection of a failing economy and their reluctance to confront what could be an expensive issue or if it is that they have a stronger opinion on the issue, Americans’ doubts continue to grow.

The poll was revealing on a number of fronts. Fewer Americans believe there is consensus in the scientific community, they are not seeing the United Nations as an honest broker in the discussion and perhaps most troubling, they express doubts about the integrity of scientists.

The poll shows that a majority of Americans believe there is still an ongoing debate within the scientific community about global warming. This likely reflects the fact that there is still a great deal of dissention among some scientists as is reflected in the ongoing Climategate email scandal and seen in recent months by some of the infighting of professional scientific groups. Americans, with their fierce beliefs in independence, have traditionally been wary of the United Nations and its ‘one world’ view. Their concerns about the world body reflect themselves in the poll as a mere 22% of Americans believe the UN is a trustworthy source of information about global warming. A group bordering on a majority, 49%, do not believe the UN is a reliable source. Only 29% even view the UN as an ally of the United States at all.

Perhaps most troubling for climate scientists are the results that seems to show Americans questioning their integrity. A majority of Americans, 59%, said they think it is ‘somewhat likely’ or ‘very likely’ that scientists have falsified data to fit their own opinions about global warming. A healthy 35% say it is very likely and a mere 26% believe it is not very or not at all likely.

In the wake of the Climategate scandal, this would seem to not bode well for portions of the scientific community that find itself under siege. The head of Britain's Climate Research Unit, Phil Jones, is under investigation for the contents of some of the emails that were released and Michael Mann of Penn State University is also being probed for the same.

Some of the other highlights of the survey:

46% believe global warming is a “major problem”; 36% disagree

47% believe that natural causes are the primary factor behind climate change

By a two to one margin voters are greatly concerned that cap and trade will hurt the economy

31% believe Al Gore is an expert on climate change

On the Net: : Rasmussen Reports - Americans Skeptical of Science Behind Global Warming