What do Americans want to know about climate change?

Based on a Fall 2023 survey of 1,033 U.S. adults, the report finds that while Americans are generally interested in climate change, their information needs vary significantly by their prior beliefs. The most sought-after information overall is regarding solutions (44%), though those less worried about climate change prioritize evidence of its existence and its causes. The study uses the 'Six Americas' framework to show that 'Alarmed' and 'Concerned' groups seek solutions, while 'Doubtful' and 'Dismissive' groups focus on whether global warming is happening or a hoax.

• Americans' primary interest in climate change information is focused on solutions, followed by evidence of global warming and its causes. Specifically, 44% of respondents are most interested in solutions, 20% in evidence, 18% in causes, and 11% in impacts.
• Information needs are strongly divided by political and demographic lines. Liberal Democrats (71%), moderate/conservative Democrats (59%), urban residents (53%), and those with a Bachelor's degree or higher (55%) are most likely to ask about solutions. Conversely, conservative Republicans (37%), rural residents (28%), and those with high school education or less (27%) are most likely to ask about evidence.
• Using the 'Six Americas' framework, the report finds that the 'Alarmed' (82%) and 'Concerned' (53%) segments primarily seek solutions. In contrast, the 'Dismissive' (50%), 'Disengaged' (40%), 'Doubtful' (30%), and 'Cautious' (28%) segments are more likely than the general population to ask for evidence that global warming is happening.
• Specific questions of interest vary by group: the 'Alarmed' and 'Concerned' most frequently ask if there is still time to reduce global warming or what nations and the U.S. can do. The 'Dismissive' most frequently ask if global warming is a hoax (30%), while the 'Doubtful' and 'Cautious' focus on how scientists know global warming is caused by human activities rather than natural changes.
• The report suggests tailored communication strategies: providing information on clean energy and voting for the worried, and using 'inoculation' strategies (debunking misconceptions) and scientific consensus data to reach the 'Cautious' and 'Doubtful' groups to counteract misinformation.

APA

Ballew, M., Verner, M., Carman, J., Myers, T., Rosenthal, S., Kotcher, J., Maibach, E., & Leiserowitz, A. (2024). What do Americans want to know about climate change? Center for Climate Change Communication. https://climatecommunication.gmu.edu/all/what-do-americans-want-to-know-about-climate-change/

Chicago

Ballew, M., M. Verner, J. Carman, T. Myers, S. Rosenthal, J. Kotcher, E. Maibach, and A. Leiserowitz. What do Americans want to know about climate change? Center for Climate Change Communication, 2024. https://climatecommunication.gmu.edu/all/what-do-americans-want-to-know-about-climate-change/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Ballew |first1=M. |last2=Verner |first2=M. |last3=Carman |first3=J. |last4=Myers |first4=T. |last5=Rosenthal |first5=S. |last6=Kotcher |first6=J. |last7=Maibach |first7=E. |last8=Leiserowitz |first8=A. |title=What do Americans want to know about climate change? |publisher=Center for Climate Change Communication |date=15 April 2024 |url=https://climatecommunication.gmu.edu/all/what-do-americans-want-to-know-about-climate-change/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{ballew2024what, author = {Ballew, M. and Verner, M. and Carman, J. and Myers, T. and Rosenthal, S. and Kotcher, J. and Maibach, E. and Leiserowitz, A.}, title = {{What do Americans want to know about climate change?}}, institution = {Center for Climate Change Communication}, year = {2024}, month = apr, url = {https://climatecommunication.gmu.edu/all/what-do-americans-want-to-know-about-climate-change/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }