Climate Change in the American Mind: Beliefs & Attitudes, Fall 2024

A December 2024 survey of 1,013 American adults shows that 73% believe global warming is happening, with 60% attributing it primarily to human causes. While 64% of respondents express worry about global warming and a majority believe it affects U.S. weather and various environmental problems, 62% rarely or never discuss the issue with family and friends. Additionally, 49% of Americans report having personally experienced the effects of global warming, and 11% have considered relocating to avoid its impacts.

• A significant majority of Americans believe global warming is occurring, with a 5 to 1 ratio of those who think it is happening compared to those who do not. Specifically, 73% believe it is happening, while 14% believe it is not.
• Most Americans attribute global warming to human activity and recognize the scientific consensus on the issue. 60% believe it is mostly human-caused, and 57% understand that most scientists agree it is happening.
• Public concern is high, with 64% of Americans reporting they are at least "somewhat worried" about global warming. This worry extends to perceived harms to future generations (71%), plant and animal species (70%), and the world's poor (68%).
• Americans increasingly perceive global warming as a direct threat to U.S. weather and local environments. 66% believe it affects U.S. weather, and majorities link it to extreme heat (77%), wildfires (74%), and droughts (73%). Furthermore, 49% say they have personally experienced its effects, and 11% have considered moving to avoid impacts.
• Despite personal importance and worry, social discussion of global warming remains low. 62% of Americans rarely or never discuss the topic with family and friends, although 65% state the issue is personally important to them.

APA

Leiserowitz, A., Maibach, E., Rosenthal, S., Kotcher, J., Goddard, E., Carman, J., Myers, T., Verner, M., Marlon, J., Goldberg, M., Ettinger, J., Fine, J., & Thier, K. (2025). Climate Change in the American Mind: Beliefs & Attitudes, Fall 2024. Center for Climate Change Communication. https://climatecommunication.gmu.edu/all/climate-change-in-the-american-mind-beliefs-and-attitudes-fall-2024/

Chicago

Leiserowitz, A., E. Maibach, S. Rosenthal, J. Kotcher, E. Goddard, J. Carman, T. Myers, et al. Climate Change in the American Mind: Beliefs & Attitudes, Fall 2024. Center for Climate Change Communication, 2025. https://climatecommunication.gmu.edu/all/climate-change-in-the-american-mind-beliefs-and-attitudes-fall-2024/.

Wikipedia

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BibTeX

@techreport{leiserowitz2025climate, author = {Leiserowitz, A. and Maibach, E. and Rosenthal, S. and Kotcher, J. and Goddard, E. and Carman, J. and Myers, T. and Verner, M. and Marlon, J. and Goldberg, M. and Ettinger, J. and Fine, J. and Thier, K.}, title = {{Climate Change in the American Mind: Beliefs \& Attitudes, Fall 2024}}, institution = {Center for Climate Change Communication}, year = {2025}, month = feb, url = {https://climatecommunication.gmu.edu/all/climate-change-in-the-american-mind-beliefs-and-attitudes-fall-2024/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }