Climate Change in the American Mind

The April 2013 survey indicates that while a majority of Americans (63%) believe global warming is happening, there was a 7-point decline in this belief since Fall 2012, potentially due to a cold winter and March. About half of Americans believe global warming is human-caused and express worry about the issue. However, global warming is primarily perceived as a distant threat affecting future generations, other species, and people in developing countries more than individuals personally. There is also a trend of Americans feeling they have sufficient information to form opinions on the subject.

• A majority of Americans believe global warming is occurring, though this belief declined by 7 percentage points since Fall 2012 to 63%. This decrease was most notable in the South and Northeast, regions that experienced extreme cold and snow storms, suggesting that recent weather experiences influence public perception.
• Belief in the human cause of global warming stands at 49%, a 5-point decrease from Fall 2012. Conversely, 33% of Americans believe global warming is primarily due to natural environmental changes.
• Public perception of scientific consensus has shifted; 42% of Americans now believe most scientists agree that global warming is happening, compared to 33% who believe there is significant disagreement among scientists.
• Global warming is generally viewed as a distant threat. While 63% believe it will harm future generations and plant and animal species, only 40% believe they will personally be harmed a moderate or great deal.
• Perceptions of immediate harm are low, with 38% of Americans believing people worldwide are being harmed right now and 34% believing people in the United States are currently being harmed.
• There is a growing trend of Americans feeling they possess enough information to form a firm opinion on global warming, increasing from 23% in May 2011 to 34% in April 2013.

APA

Center for Climate Change Communication (2013). Climate Change in the American Mind. https://climatecommunication.gmu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/April-2013-Americans-Global-Warming-Beliefs-and-Attitudes-2013.pdf

Chicago

Center for Climate Change Communication. Climate Change in the American Mind. 2013. https://climatecommunication.gmu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/April-2013-Americans-Global-Warming-Beliefs-and-Attitudes-2013.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Center for Climate Change Communication |title=Climate Change in the American Mind |date=April 2013 |url=https://climatecommunication.gmu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/April-2013-Americans-Global-Warming-Beliefs-and-Attitudes-2013.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{centerforclimatechangecommunication2013climate, author = {{Center for Climate Change Communication}}, title = {{Climate Change in the American Mind}}, institution = {Center for Climate Change Communication}, year = {2013}, month = apr, url = {https://climatecommunication.gmu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/April-2013-Americans-Global-Warming-Beliefs-and-Attitudes-2013.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }