Climate Opinion, Gender, and Income Levels

The study analyzes climate change perceptions among Facebook users globally, dividing countries into high and low income/emission groups. It finds that while a high proportion of both men and women in low-income/emission countries are 'Alarmed' about climate change, a significant gender gap exists in high-income/emission countries, where women are more likely to be Alarmed and less likely to be Doubtful or Dismissive than men. Knowledge levels are generally lower in low-income/emission regions, and a global gap persists in understanding the human cause of climate change, though most respondents agree climate change is happening after receiving a brief description.

• In low income/emission countries and territories, there is little gender difference in the proportion of people who are 'Alarmed' about climate change, with 45% of men and 44% of women in this category. In contrast, high income/emission countries show a gender gap, with 36% of women and 30% of men being Alarmed; women in these high-income areas are also significantly less likely to be 'Doubtful' or 'Dismissive' (11%) compared to men (20%).
• Self-reported knowledge of climate change is lower in low per-capita income/emission countries, where only 13% of men and 9% of women say they know 'a lot'. In high per-capita income/emission countries, these figures rise to 22% of men and 16% of women.
• While a large majority of respondents globally agree climate change is happening after reading a description, fewer understand it is human-caused. In low per-capita income/emission countries, 40% of men and 32% of women attribute it to human activities, compared to 45% of men and 46% of women in high per-capita income/emission countries. Respondents in low income/emission countries are more likely to incorrectly attribute climate change to natural changes.
• Support for government action as a 'very high' priority shows a gender gap in high-income/emission countries, where 39% of women and 34% of men support it. In low per-capita income/emission countries, support is higher and more consistent across genders, at 42% for men and 41% for women.

APA

Yale Program on Climate Change Communication (2024). Climate Opinion, Gender, and Income Levels. https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/publications/climate-opinion-gender-income-levels/

Chicago

Yale Program on Climate Change Communication. Climate Opinion, Gender, and Income Levels. 2024. https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/publications/climate-opinion-gender-income-levels/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Yale Program on Climate Change Communication |title=Climate Opinion, Gender, and Income Levels |date=13 August 2024 |url=https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/publications/climate-opinion-gender-income-levels/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{yaleprogramonclimatechangecommunication2024climate, author = {{Yale Program on Climate Change Communication}}, title = {{Climate Opinion, Gender, and Income Levels}}, institution = {Yale Program on Climate Change Communication}, year = {2024}, month = aug, url = {https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/publications/climate-opinion-gender-income-levels/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }