Climate Change in the American Mind: Beliefs & Attitudes

A survey of 1,033 American adults in October 2023 reveals that 72% believe global warming is happening, with 58% attributing it primarily to human activities. While 65% of respondents express worry about global warming and many perceive risks to their local communities—particularly from extreme heat and power outages—social engagement remains low, with 65% rarely or never discussing the topic with family and friends. Approximately 10% of respondents report psychological distress, such as anxiety or depression, linked to global warming.

• A significant majority of Americans believe global warming is occurring, with those who believe it is happening outnumbering those who do not by nearly 5 to 1 (72% vs 15%). When including those who 'lean' toward a yes response, the total reaches 80%.
• Most Americans attribute global warming to human activity, with 58% stating it is mostly human-caused, while 29% believe it results from natural environmental changes. Additionally, 53% recognize that most scientists agree global warming is happening.
• Americans perceive global warming as a current threat, with 46% believing people in the U.S. are being harmed 'right now' and 43% reporting personal experience with its effects. Majorities believe it will harm plant and animal species (71%), future generations (70%), and the world's poor (67%).
• Global warming is linked to psychological distress in a minority of the population; approximately 10% of Americans report symptoms of anxiety or depression due to global warming for several or more days over a two-week period.
• Despite personal concern, social discourse on the topic is limited. 65% of Americans rarely or never discuss global warming with family and friends, and only 20% hear people they know talk about it at least once a month.
• Americans express a desire for expert information focused on solutions and causes. The most common questions they would ask an expert include what nations of the world (74%) and the U.S. (72%) can do to reduce global warming, and how human cause is proven (70%).
• Fatalism is relatively low; 60% of Americans disagree that it is already too late to act against global warming. However, there is a split on individual agency, with 47% agreeing that a single individual's actions will not make a difference.
• A majority of Americans (61%) believe global warming is affecting U.S. weather. They specifically associate it with extreme heat (75%), droughts (71%), and wildfires (70%).
• Local risk perception is high for specific infrastructure and environmental issues. Majorities are worried their local area might be harmed by electricity power outages (74%), air pollution (73%), and extreme heat (70%).

APA

Yale Program on Climate Change Communication (2023). Climate Change in the American Mind: Beliefs & Attitudes. https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/app/uploads/2024/01/climate-change-american-mind-beliefs-attitudes-fall-2023.pdf

Chicago

Yale Program on Climate Change Communication. Climate Change in the American Mind: Beliefs & Attitudes. 2023. https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/app/uploads/2024/01/climate-change-american-mind-beliefs-attitudes-fall-2023.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Yale Program on Climate Change Communication |title=Climate Change in the American Mind: Beliefs & Attitudes |date=2023 |url=https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/app/uploads/2024/01/climate-change-american-mind-beliefs-attitudes-fall-2023.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{yaleprogramonclimatechangecommunication2023climate, author = {{Yale Program on Climate Change Communication}}, title = {{Climate Change in the American Mind: Beliefs \& Attitudes}}, institution = {Yale Program on Climate Change Communication}, year = {2023}, url = {https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/app/uploads/2024/01/climate-change-american-mind-beliefs-attitudes-fall-2023.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }