Climate Change in the American Mind: Beliefs & Attitudes

The Fall 2024 report on 'Climate Change in the American Mind' reveals that 73% of Americans believe global warming is happening, with 60% attributing it primarily to human activity. While 64% express worry about global warming and 49% claim to have personally experienced its effects, social engagement remains low, with 62% rarely or never discussing the issue with family and friends. The report also highlights significant concerns regarding local environmental risks, particularly extreme heat, air pollution, and power outages.

• A significant majority of Americans believe global warming is occurring, with those who believe it is happening outnumbering those who do not by more than 5 to 1 (73% vs 14%). When those who are unsure are asked for a best guess, the total percentage of Americans who think it is happening or lean toward that position rises to 82%.
• Most Americans attribute global warming to human activity and recognize the scientific consensus; 60% believe it is mostly human-caused, and 57% understand that most scientists believe it is happening.
• Worry about global warming is prevalent, with 64% of Americans reporting they are at least "somewhat worried," including 28% who are "very worried."
• Americans perceive both current and future harms from global warming. 48% believe people in the U.S. are being harmed "right now," and 49% report personally experiencing its effects. Majorities believe it will harm plant and animal species (70%), the world's poor (68%), and people in the U.S. (63%).
• Despite personal importance—with 65% stating the issue is personally important—social engagement is low. 62% of Americans rarely or never discuss global warming with family and friends.
• Social norms for climate action are weak; only 37% perceive an injunctive norm (belief that family/friends expect action) and 36% perceive a descriptive norm (belief that family/friends are taking action).
• Consumer activism is practiced by a minority of the population: 31% have rewarded companies taking steps to reduce global warming by buying their products, and 26% have punished companies opposing such steps by boycotting them in the past 12 months.
• A majority of Americans (56%) believe extreme weather poses either a "high" or "moderate" risk to their community over the next 10 years. Localized worries are highest for air pollution (75%), electricity power outages (74%), and water pollution (74%).
• A small percentage of the population (11%) has considered relocating their home specifically to avoid the impacts of global warming.

APA

Center for Climate Change Communication (2024). Climate Change in the American Mind: Beliefs & Attitudes. https://climatecommunication.gmu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/climate-change-american-mind-beliefs-attitudes-fall-2024.pdf

Chicago

Center for Climate Change Communication. Climate Change in the American Mind: Beliefs & Attitudes. 2024. https://climatecommunication.gmu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/climate-change-american-mind-beliefs-attitudes-fall-2024.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Center for Climate Change Communication |title=Climate Change in the American Mind: Beliefs & Attitudes |date=2024 |url=https://climatecommunication.gmu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/climate-change-american-mind-beliefs-attitudes-fall-2024.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{centerforclimatechangecommunication2024climate, author = {{Center for Climate Change Communication}}, title = {{Climate Change in the American Mind: Beliefs \& Attitudes}}, institution = {Center for Climate Change Communication}, year = {2024}, url = {https://climatecommunication.gmu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/climate-change-american-mind-beliefs-attitudes-fall-2024.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }