Climate Change in the American Mind: Public Perceptions of the Health Harms of Global Warming

The report finds that while 39% of Americans believe global warming is harming the health of the general population, only 16% feel it harms their own health. There is an increasing awareness of specific health risks, particularly heat stroke, air pollution, and respiratory issues, and a growing recognition that low-income people and people of color are disproportionately affected. Trust in information sources like primary care physicians and climate scientists has risen, while coal and nuclear energy are viewed as the most harmful energy sources to health.

• There is a gap between the perceived impact of global warming on the general American public versus the individual; 39% of Americans believe the health of Americans is being harmed by global warming "a great deal" or "a moderate amount," while only 16% believe their own health is being harmed to the same extent.
• Americans are increasingly identifying specific health problems likely to become more common in their communities if global warming is not addressed, with the highest increases since 2014 seen in heat stroke (45%), air pollution (44%), asthma and/or other lung diseases (43%), and pollen-related allergies (41%).
• Awareness of the disproportionate impact of global warming on certain demographics has grown, with 47% of Americans recognizing that some groups are more likely than others to experience health harms. Low-income people (18%) and people of color (6%) are among the most commonly identified vulnerable groups.
• Public perception of the health harms of energy sources varies significantly, with coal (65%) and nuclear energy (53%) viewed as the most harmful. Natural gas (38%), wind (15%), and solar power (12%) are viewed as harmful by smaller proportions of the population, though perceptions of natural gas, wind, and solar have increased since 2018.
• A significant portion of the public believes institutional action is needed to mitigate health risks, with 39% stating that federal agencies such as the CDC, NIH, and FEMA should do more, and 24% believing health professionals should do more.
• Trust in information sources regarding the health harms of global warming has generally increased. The most trusted sources include first responders (60%), primary care physicians (60%), and climate scientists (50%).

APA

Center for Climate Change Communication (2024). Climate Change in the American Mind: Public Perceptions of the Health Harms of Global Warming. https://climatecommunication.gmu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/climate-change-american-mind-health-fall-2024.pdf

Chicago

Center for Climate Change Communication. Climate Change in the American Mind: Public Perceptions of the Health Harms of Global Warming. 2024. https://climatecommunication.gmu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/climate-change-american-mind-health-fall-2024.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Center for Climate Change Communication |title=Climate Change in the American Mind: Public Perceptions of the Health Harms of Global Warming |date=2024 |url=https://climatecommunication.gmu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/climate-change-american-mind-health-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: Public Perceptions of the Health Harms of Global Warming}}, institution = {Center for Climate Change Communication}, year = {2024}, url = {https://climatecommunication.gmu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/climate-change-american-mind-health-fall-2024.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }