climate change in the american mind

The report finds that 72% of Americans believe global warming is happening, with 59% attributing it to human activities. While 66% express worry and 64% believe it affects U.S. weather, there is a significant gap in understanding the scientific consensus, with only 22% aware that over 90% of climate scientists agree on human-caused warming. Personal experience with climate effects is reported by 46% of respondents, and a majority perceive extreme weather as a risk to their local communities.

• A significant majority of Americans believe global warming is occurring, with 72% stating it is happening and 52% feeling "extremely" or "very" sure of this fact. In contrast, only 12% believe it is not happening, and 7% are certain it is not.
• While 59% of Americans believe global warming is primarily caused by human activities, there is a lack of precise understanding regarding scientific consensus; only 22% know that more than 90% of climate scientists agree that human-caused global warming is happening.
• Emotional responses to global warming are characterized by worry and interest, with 66% of Americans feeling at least "somewhat worried" and 64% feeling "very" or "moderately" interested. Other prevalent emotions include feeling "helpless" (53%) and "disgusted" (50%).
• Perceptions of personal and national harm are increasing, with 46% of Americans reporting they have personally experienced the effects of global warming and 45% believing people in the U.S. are being harmed "right now."
• Americans perceive the highest risk of harm from global warming to plant and animal species (73%) and future generations (72%), while they are least likely to believe they will be personally harmed (43%).
• Social engagement with the topic remains low; 59% of Americans rarely or never discuss global warming with family and friends, and only 24% hear people they know talking about it at least once a month.
• There is a low perception of social norms regarding climate action, with only 43% believing it is moderately to extremely important to their family and friends that they take action, and 40% stating their social circle makes a moderate to great effort to reduce global warming.
• Public efficacy is split between optimism and technological reliance; 66% disagree that it is too late to act, and 48% believe new technologies can solve global warming without requiring significant individual lifestyle changes.
• A majority of Americans link global warming to U.S. weather patterns, with 64% believing it is affecting weather in the U.S. and 56% viewing extreme weather as a risk to their community over the next 10 years.
• In 2019, Americans specifically associated global warming with worsening the melting of Greenland ice sheets (64%), European heat waves (55%), and California wildfires (50%).

APA

Center for Climate Change Communication (2019). climate change in the american mind. https://climatecommunication.gmu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Climate_Change_American_Mind_November_2019b.pdf

Chicago

Center for Climate Change Communication. climate change in the american mind. 2019. https://climatecommunication.gmu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Climate_Change_American_Mind_November_2019b.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Center for Climate Change Communication |title=climate change in the american mind |date=November 2019 |url=https://climatecommunication.gmu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Climate_Change_American_Mind_November_2019b.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{centerforclimatechangecommunication2019climate, author = {{Center for Climate Change Communication}}, title = {{climate change in the american mind}}, institution = {Center for Climate Change Communication}, year = {2019}, month = nov, url = {https://climatecommunication.gmu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Climate_Change_American_Mind_November_2019b.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }