For the first time in 25 years, a majority of Americans would prioritise the economy ahead of the environment, according to pollsters Gallup.

Just over 1,000 adults were asked:

With which one of these statements about the economy and the environment do you most agree:

– Protection of the environment should be give priority, even at the risk of curbing economic growth

– Economic growth should be given priority, even if the environment suffers to some extent?

Here are the results:

“The percentage of Americans choosing the environment slipped below 50% in 2003 and 2004, but was still higher than the percentage choosing the economy,” says Gallup. “Sentiments have moved up and down over the last several years, but this year, the percentage of Americans choosing the environment fell all the way to 42%, while the percentage choosing the economy jumped to 51%.”

Clearly the financial crisis is behind this shift. Of course many would say that the majority of people in all Western countries were clearly not prioritising the environment over the economy in most of their decisions prior to 2009.

Graph: Gallup