Climate Change in the American Mind

The report finds that 70% of Americans believe global warming is happening, though only 53% believe it is mostly human-caused and 11% are aware of the strong scientific consensus. While 58% express worry, few are 'very worried,' and many perceive the threat as distant, though perceptions of immediate harm in the U.S. have reached a record high of 38%. There is strong public support for corporate and individual action, as well as for teaching climate change in schools, but low confidence in the U.S. Congress's ability to pass necessary legislation.

• A significant majority of Americans believe global warming is occurring, with 70% stating it is happening and 11% stating it is not. This level of belief is near its highest point since November 2008.
• There is a gap between public perception and scientific consensus regarding the cause of global warming; only 53% of Americans believe it is mostly human-caused, and only 11% are aware that over 90% of climate scientists agree on this point.
• While 58% of Americans report being at least 'somewhat worried' about global warming, only 16% are 'very worried.' Emotional responses are mixed, with 67% feeling 'interested,' while 49% feel 'helpless' and 48% feel 'hopeful.'
• Perceptions of immediate harm in the U.S. have increased to a record high of 38%, though most Americans still view global warming as a more distant threat, particularly to plant and animal species (71%) and future generations (70%).
• Americans believe that corporations, industry (71%), and citizens (66%) should do more to address global warming. There is also majority support for the U.S. Congress (60%) and the U.S. reducing its own greenhouse gas emissions regardless of other countries' actions (61%).
• There is strong support for climate education in schools, with 76% of Americans supporting the teaching of global warming's causes, consequences, and solutions to children.
• Public confidence in legislative action is low; only 37% of Americans believe the public can convince the U.S. Congress to pass the legislation needed to reduce global warming.
• Americans primarily conceptualize global warming as an environmental (68%), scientific (59%), agricultural (55%), or severe weather (54%) issue, while fewer see it as a moral (24%) or national security (18%) issue.

APA

Center for Climate Change Communication (2016). Climate Change in the American Mind. https://climatecommunication.gmu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Climate-Change-American-Mind-March-2016-FINAL.compressed.pdf

Chicago

Center for Climate Change Communication. Climate Change in the American Mind. 2016. https://climatecommunication.gmu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Climate-Change-American-Mind-March-2016-FINAL.compressed.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Center for Climate Change Communication |title=Climate Change in the American Mind |date=March 2016 |url=https://climatecommunication.gmu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Climate-Change-American-Mind-March-2016-FINAL.compressed.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{centerforclimatechangecommunication2016climate, author = {{Center for Climate Change Communication}}, title = {{Climate Change in the American Mind}}, institution = {Center for Climate Change Communication}, year = {2016}, month = mar, url = {https://climatecommunication.gmu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Climate-Change-American-Mind-March-2016-FINAL.compressed.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }