Climate Change in the American Mind: Beliefs & Attitudes

The Spring 2024 survey of 1,031 American adults shows that 70% believe global warming is happening, with 59% attributing it primarily to human causes. While 64% of respondents express worry about global warming and 50% report personally experiencing its effects, there is a significant gap in understanding the scientific consensus, with only 21% aware that over 90% of climate scientists agree on human-caused warming. Americans conceptualize the issue primarily as environmental (77%) and scientific (68%). Despite 62% feeling a personal responsibility to help, social engagement remains low, with 66% rarely or never discussing the topic with family and friends.

• A strong majority of Americans believe global warming is occurring, with those who believe it is happening outnumbering those who do not by approximately 5 to 1.
• While a majority of Americans (59%) believe global warming is mostly human-caused, only 21% are aware of the high level of scientific consensus, specifically that more than 90% of climate scientists hold this view.
• Half of Americans report having personally experienced the effects of global warming, and 47% believe people in the United States are being harmed by it currently.
• Americans perceive significant risks to various groups, with the highest concerns for plant and animal species (72%) and future generations (72%).
• A majority of Americans believe global warming is affecting U.S. weather (66%), with specific concerns regarding extreme heat (74%), wildfires (73%), droughts (72%), and rising sea levels (70%).
• Emotional responses to global warming are prevalent, with 64% of Americans feeling at least 'somewhat worried' and 58% feeling 'interested'.
• A small but significant portion of the population reports psychological distress, with over 10% experiencing symptoms of anxiety or depression due to global warming in the two weeks prior to the survey.
• Social engagement with the topic is low; 66% of Americans rarely or never discuss global warming with family and friends.
• Personal importance and responsibility are high, with 67% stating the issue is personally important and 62% feeling a personal responsibility to help reduce global warming.
• The most cited primary reason for reducing global warming is to provide a better life for children and grandchildren (23%).
• Opinions on personal agency are split; 47% believe an individual's actions make no difference, while 53% disagree.
• Americans conceptualize global warming through multiple lenses, most prominently as an environmental issue (77%) and a scientific issue (68%).

APA

Yale Program on Climate Change Communication (2024). Climate Change in the American Mind: Beliefs & Attitudes. https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/app/uploads/2024/07/climate-change-american-mind-beliefs-attitudes-spring-2024.pdf

Chicago

Yale Program on Climate Change Communication. Climate Change in the American Mind: Beliefs & Attitudes. 2024. https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/app/uploads/2024/07/climate-change-american-mind-beliefs-attitudes-spring-2024.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Yale Program on Climate Change Communication |title=Climate Change in the American Mind: Beliefs & Attitudes |date=March 2024 |url=https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/app/uploads/2024/07/climate-change-american-mind-beliefs-attitudes-spring-2024.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{yaleprogramonclimatechangecommunication2024climate, author = {{Yale Program on Climate Change Communication}}, title = {{Climate Change in the American Mind: Beliefs \& Attitudes}}, institution = {Yale Program on Climate Change Communication}, year = {2024}, month = mar, url = {https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/app/uploads/2024/07/climate-change-american-mind-beliefs-attitudes-spring-2024.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }