Climate Change in the American Mind

The November 2016 survey reveals that 70% of Americans believe global warming is happening, with 55% attributing it primarily to human activities. While 61% of respondents express worry and 60% believe it affects U.S. weather, the threat is largely perceived as distant, with a majority believing it will harm future generations and developing countries more than themselves. Public understanding of the scientific consensus remains low, and optimism regarding the ability of the U.S. Congress to pass ambitious legislation to reduce global warming is limited.

• A significant majority of Americans believe global warming is occurring and that it is human-caused, with levels of belief reaching peaks not seen since 2008.
• There is a substantial gap between the actual scientific consensus on human-caused global warming and the American public's perception of that consensus.
• Emotional responses to global warming are mixed; while a majority feel interested or hopeful, significant portions of the population also feel helpless, disgusted, or afraid.
• Americans generally perceive global warming as a distant threat, prioritizing the harm it causes to future generations and the global poor over personal or local impact.
• Despite believing that global warming affects U.S. weather, only a minority of Americans believe they are currently being harmed by it or have personally experienced its effects.
• Public optimism regarding political action and the human capacity to successfully reduce global warming is very low.
• Americans primarily conceptualize global warming as an environmental or scientific issue, with significantly lower percentages viewing it through moral, social justice, or religious lenses.

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-November-2016.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-November-2016.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Center for Climate Change Communication |title=Climate Change in the American Mind |date=November 2016 |url=https://climatecommunication.gmu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Climate-Change-American-Mind-November-2016.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 = nov, url = {https://climatecommunication.gmu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Climate-Change-American-Mind-November-2016.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }