Climate Change in the American Mind

The April 2014 survey 'Climate Change in the American Mind' reveals that while a majority of Americans (64%) believe global warming is happening and are increasingly certain of it, there is a significant gap between public perception and scientific consensus. Only 44% of Americans believe global warming is both happening and human-caused, and only 12% are aware that 90% or more of climate scientists agree on this. Despite these beliefs, few Americans are 'very worried' (15%), often perceiving it as a distant threat that will harm future generations more than themselves. Additionally, the topic is rarely discussed in social circles, with two-thirds of respondents saying they 'rarely' or 'never' discuss it with family and friends.

• A majority of Americans believe global warming is occurring, and their certainty has increased over a three-year period. As of April 2014, 64% of Americans think global warming is happening. Among those who believe it is happening, 62% are either 'extremely' or 'very' sure, compared to 54% in May 2011.
• Public opinion is split on the cause of global warming, with about half of Americans attributing it to human activity and one-third attributing it to natural environmental changes. Specifically, 52% believe it is mostly human-caused and 32% believe it is due to natural changes.
• There is a stark disconnect between the scientific consensus and public understanding. While 97% of climate scientists conclude human-caused global warming is happening, only 44% of Americans believe it is both happening and human-caused. Furthermore, only 12% of Americans know that 90% or more of scientists have reached this conclusion.
• Most Americans perceive global warming as a distant threat rather than an immediate personal danger. Only 15% of respondents report being 'very worried' about global warming, and only 32% believe people in the U.S. are being harmed 'right now'. While 67% believe future generations will be harmed a 'great deal' or 'moderate amount', only 38% believe they will be personally harmed.
• Public optimism regarding the ability to reduce global warming is low. Only 6% of Americans believe humans can and will successfully reduce global warming. The most common view (42%) is that humans could reduce it, but it is unclear if the necessary actions will be taken.
• Global warming is infrequently discussed in social settings, often due to perceived disagreement. Two-thirds of Americans 'rarely' or 'never' discuss the topic with family and friends. Among those who feel none of their friends share their views, 77% never discuss it.

APA

Center for Climate Change Communication (2014). Climate Change in the American Mind. https://climatecommunication.gmu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/April-2014-Climate-Change-in-the-American-Mind.pdf

Chicago

Center for Climate Change Communication. Climate Change in the American Mind. 2014. https://climatecommunication.gmu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/April-2014-Climate-Change-in-the-American-Mind.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Center for Climate Change Communication |title=Climate Change in the American Mind |date=April 2014 |url=https://climatecommunication.gmu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/April-2014-Climate-Change-in-the-American-Mind.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{centerforclimatechangecommunication2014climate, author = {{Center for Climate Change Communication}}, title = {{Climate Change in the American Mind}}, institution = {Center for Climate Change Communication}, year = {2014}, month = apr, url = {https://climatecommunication.gmu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/April-2014-Climate-Change-in-the-American-Mind.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }