Americans’ Knowledge of Climate Change

The study reveals significant gaps in public knowledge regarding climate change in the United States, with a majority of participants failing to demonstrate basic understanding of the greenhouse effect and its causes, despite a general belief that global warming is occurring and a high level of trust in scientific organizations.

• A majority of Americans lack a basic understanding of climate change, with 63 percent believing global warming is happening, yet only 8 percent achieving a grade of A or B in knowledge assessment, while 52 percent would receive an F.
• Specific knowledge gaps exist regarding the mechanisms of global warming: only 57% understand the greenhouse effect, 50% identify human activities as the primary cause, 45% know carbon dioxide traps heat, and 25% are aware of coral bleaching or ocean acidification.
• Common misconceptions persist, such as the belief that the ozone layer hole and aerosol spray cans contribute to global warming, though there is general agreement that fossil fuel combustion and a transition to renewable energy are central to the issue.
• Americans express a desire for more education on the topic, with 75 percent wanting to know more and 68 percent supporting a national program to teach the public about the issue, while continuing to trust scientists more than other information sources.

APA

Yale Program on Climate Change Communication (2010). Americans’ Knowledge of Climate Change. https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/publications/americans-knowledge-of-climate-change/

Chicago

Yale Program on Climate Change Communication. Americans’ Knowledge of Climate Change. 2010. https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/publications/americans-knowledge-of-climate-change/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Yale Program on Climate Change Communication |title=Americans’ Knowledge of Climate Change |date=12 October 2010 |url=https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/publications/americans-knowledge-of-climate-change/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{yaleprogramonclimatechangecommunication2010americans, author = {{Yale Program on Climate Change Communication}}, title = {{Americans’ Knowledge of Climate Change}}, institution = {Yale Program on Climate Change Communication}, year = {2010}, month = oct, url = {https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/publications/americans-knowledge-of-climate-change/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }