The Polls-Trends: Twenty Years of Public Opinion about Global Warming

This research paper synthesizes data from hundreds of polling questions across more than 70 surveys to identify long-term trends in public opinion on global warming. The review focuses on six dimensions: public awareness, understanding of causes and policy, perceptions of scientific certainty and expert agreement, concern over impacts, support for policy action relative to economic costs, and support for the Kyoto climate treaty.

• The authors conducted a systematic review of public opinion trends by analyzing hundreds of polling questions from more than 70 surveys administered over the previous 20 years.
• The analysis of public opinion is structured around six key dimensions: awareness of global warming, understanding of its causes and policy debates, perceptions of scientific certainty and expert consensus, concern regarding impacts, support for policy action versus economic costs, and support for the Kyoto climate treaty.

APA

Team, M. 4. (2007). The Polls-Trends: Twenty Years of Public Opinion about Global Warming. Center for Climate Change Communication. https://climatecommunication.gmu.edu/all/twenty-years-of-public-opinion-about-global-warming/

Chicago

Team, Mason 4C. The Polls-Trends: Twenty Years of Public Opinion about Global Warming. Center for Climate Change Communication, 2007. https://climatecommunication.gmu.edu/all/twenty-years-of-public-opinion-about-global-warming/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Team |first1=Mason 4C |title=The Polls-Trends: Twenty Years of Public Opinion about Global Warming |publisher=Center for Climate Change Communication |date=30 August 2007 |url=https://climatecommunication.gmu.edu/all/twenty-years-of-public-opinion-about-global-warming/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{team2007pollstrends, author = {Team, Mason 4C}, title = {{The Polls-Trends: Twenty Years of Public Opinion about Global Warming}}, institution = {Center for Climate Change Communication}, year = {2007}, month = aug, url = {https://climatecommunication.gmu.edu/all/twenty-years-of-public-opinion-about-global-warming/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }