Finding Common Ground at the Thanksgiving Table

The guide suggests that while direct arguments about global warming are often counterproductive, common ground can be found by discussing shared environmental values, concerns about air pollution and biodiversity, and support for renewable energy and energy-efficiency behaviors.

• Approximately 20% of Americans believe global warming is not occurring. This group is disproportionately composed of Republicans or Republican-leaning individuals (79%), political conservatives (68%), non-Hispanic whites (81%), people aged 50 and older (61%), men (56%), and those who attend religious services weekly (44%).
• Among those who deny global warming, only 38% describe it as a "hoax," while 42% find the scientific evidence unconvincing. A vast majority (93%) believe they cannot be convinced otherwise, and attempting to change their minds through argument often leads them to defend their views more strongly.
• Despite denying global warming, a majority of these individuals share environmental values and concerns. 54% believe humans have a responsibility to protect the Earth, and majorities express concern over air pollution (74%), tropical rain forest loss (73%), loss of open spaces (61%), species extinction (57%), ocean conditions (54%), and the lack of widely available clean energy (53%).
• There is significant overlap in support for specific climate-friendly policies and behaviors among those who do not believe in global warming. 70% support or do not oppose funding for renewable energy like solar and wind, and 62% support regulating carbon dioxide emissions. Common individual behaviors include turning off lights (90%), using energy-efficient appliances (64%), and maintaining specific thermostat settings (60%).
• Significant points of disagreement remain: 74% of those who deny global warming believe the environmental crisis is exaggerated and 74% favor expanding offshore drilling for oil and natural gas off the U.S. coast.

APA

Yale Program on Climate Change Communication (2015). Finding Common Ground at the Thanksgiving Table. https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/publications/finding-common-ground-at-the-thanksgiving-table/

Chicago

Yale Program on Climate Change Communication. Finding Common Ground at the Thanksgiving Table. 2015. https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/publications/finding-common-ground-at-the-thanksgiving-table/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Yale Program on Climate Change Communication |title=Finding Common Ground at the Thanksgiving Table |date=23 November 2015 |url=https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/publications/finding-common-ground-at-the-thanksgiving-table/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{yaleprogramonclimatechangecommunication2015finding, author = {{Yale Program on Climate Change Communication}}, title = {{Finding Common Ground at the Thanksgiving Table}}, institution = {Yale Program on Climate Change Communication}, year = {2015}, month = nov, url = {https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/publications/finding-common-ground-at-the-thanksgiving-table/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }