Ask an Expert

Based on Fall 2023 survey data, the report finds that while most Americans are most interested in climate solutions, those less worried about climate change prioritize evidence and causes. The findings suggest that tailored communication strategies—focusing on solutions for the 'Alarmed' and 'Concerned' and on scientific consensus for the 'Doubtful' and 'Dismissive'—can better support public understanding and action.

• Among the general U.S. population, the most sought-after information from experts concerns solutions to global warming (44%), followed by evidence of its occurrence (20%) and its causes (18%), while only 11% prioritize impacts.
• Interest in climate topics varies significantly by political and demographic groups: liberal Democrats, those with a Bachelor's degree or higher, and urban residents are most likely to ask about solutions, whereas conservative Republicans, rural residents, and those with high school or less education are more likely to ask about evidence.
• Using the 'Six Americas' framework, the report shows a clear divide: the 'Alarmed' (82%) and 'Concerned' (53%) primarily seek solutions, while the 'Dismissive', 'Doubtful', 'Disengaged', and 'Cautious' segments are more interested in evidence and causes.
• Specific high-priority questions differ by audience: the 'Alarmed' and 'Concerned' most often ask if there is still time to reduce global warming, while the 'Dismissive' most frequently ask if global warming is a hoax.
• The report recommends tailored communication strategies: providing solutions and individual actions for worried audiences, and using 'inoculation' strategies to debunk misconceptions and emphasize scientific consensus for less worried audiences to counteract misinformation.

APA

Yale Program on Climate Change Communication (2024). Ask an Expert. https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/publications/ask-an-expert/

Chicago

Yale Program on Climate Change Communication. Ask an Expert. 2024. https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/publications/ask-an-expert/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Yale Program on Climate Change Communication |title=Ask an Expert |date=16 April 2024 |url=https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/publications/ask-an-expert/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{yaleprogramonclimatechangecommunication2024ask, author = {{Yale Program on Climate Change Communication}}, title = {{Ask an Expert}}, institution = {Yale Program on Climate Change Communication}, year = {2024}, month = apr, url = {https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/publications/ask-an-expert/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }