Climate Change in the American Mind

The May 2017 survey indicates that 70% of Americans believe global warming is happening, with 58% attributing it primarily to human activities. While 59% believe it is affecting U.S. weather and 40% report personally experiencing its effects, most perceive it as a distant threat, primarily harming future generations and the global poor. Despite broad support (78%) for teaching climate change in schools, social engagement remains low, with 67% rarely or never discussing the topic with family and friends. Only 7% of respondents are optimistic that humans will successfully reduce global warming.

• A strong majority of Americans believe global warming is occurring and is human-caused. Specifically, 70% think it is happening, and 58% understand that it is "mostly human caused," which is the highest level recorded since the surveys began in November 2008.
• There is a significant gap between scientific consensus and public understanding; only 13% of Americans are aware that more than 90% of climate scientists are convinced that human-caused global warming is happening.
• While 57% of Americans express at least some worry about global warming, only 17% are "very worried."
• Americans increasingly perceive global warming as affecting the U.S., with 59% believing it affects U.S. weather and 40% stating they have personally experienced its effects, the highest level since 2008.
• Global warming is generally viewed as a distant threat. The highest levels of perceived harm are attributed to future generations (71%), plant and animal species (71%), and the Earth (70%), while fewer people believe it will harm themselves (43%) or their own family (47%).
• Public social engagement with the topic is low: 67% of Americans rarely or never discuss global warming with family and friends, and only 19% hear people they know talk about it at least once a month.
• There is strong public support for climate education, with 78% of Americans agreeing that schools should teach children about the causes, consequences, and potential solutions to global warming.
• The primary motivation for reducing global warming is intergenerational, with 24% of Americans citing the desire to provide a better life for children and grandchildren as the most important reason.
• Optimism regarding the ability to mitigate global warming is very low; only 7% believe humans can and will successfully reduce it, while 48% believe it is unclear if necessary actions will be taken.
• A significant minority of Americans (39%) believe there is a 50% or higher chance that global warming will lead to human extinction.

APA

Center for Climate Change Communication (2017). Climate Change in the American Mind. https://climatecommunication.gmu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Climate-Change-American-Mind-May-2017.pdf

Chicago

Center for Climate Change Communication. Climate Change in the American Mind. 2017. https://climatecommunication.gmu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Climate-Change-American-Mind-May-2017.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Center for Climate Change Communication |title=Climate Change in the American Mind |date=May 2017 |url=https://climatecommunication.gmu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Climate-Change-American-Mind-May-2017.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{centerforclimatechangecommunication2017climate, author = {{Center for Climate Change Communication}}, title = {{Climate Change in the American Mind}}, institution = {Center for Climate Change Communication}, year = {2017}, month = may, url = {https://climatecommunication.gmu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Climate-Change-American-Mind-May-2017.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }