Climate Change in the American Mind: Beliefs & Attitudes

A May 2025 survey of 1,040 U.S. adults shows that 69% believe global warming is happening, with 60% attributing it primarily to human causes. While 65% of Americans express worry and 61% feel a personal responsibility to help, social engagement remains low, as 65% rarely or never discuss the issue with family and friends. A majority of respondents perceive global warming as currently harming people in the U.S. and affecting various extreme weather events, including extreme heat (75%) and wildfires (72%). Despite these concerns, 53% disagree that new technologies can solve the problem without significant individual lifestyle changes, and 55% believe individual actions make a difference.

• A significant majority of Americans believe global warming is occurring, with those who believe it is happening outnumbering those who do not by more than 4 to 1 (69% vs 15%). When including those who 'lean' toward a yes answer, the total rises to 78%.
• Most Americans attribute global warming to human activity and recognize the scientific consensus on the issue; 60% believe it is mostly human-caused, and 58% understand that most scientists believe it is happening.
• Emotional responses to global warming are predominantly negative or concerned, with 65% of Americans reporting they are at least "somewhat worried." Other common emotions include interest (58%), sadness (44%), and disgust (44%).
• Americans perceive global warming as a current and future threat; 48% believe people in the U.S. are being harmed "right now," and 46% report personally experiencing its effects. High levels of expected harm are attributed to plant and animal species (71%) and future generations (69%).
• There is a strong perception that global warming affects U.S. weather, with 64% of Americans agreeing. This includes a majority belief that it affects extreme heat (75%), wildfires (72%), droughts (72%), and flooding (71%).
• Despite personal concern, social engagement is limited: 65% of Americans rarely or never discuss global warming with family and friends, and only 17% hear people they know talk about it at least once a month.
• A majority of Americans feel a personal connection and responsibility toward the issue, with 64% stating it is personally important and 61% feeling a personal responsibility to help reduce global warming.
• Americans generally maintain a sense of agency, with 60% disagreeing that it is too late to act and 55% disagreeing that individual actions make no difference. Additionally, 53% disagree that technology alone can solve the problem without individual lifestyle changes.
• Consumer activism is practiced by a minority of the population; 29% of Americans have rewarded companies taking steps to reduce global warming by purchasing their products, and 25% have punished opposing companies by boycotting them in the last 12 months.
• A small portion of the population (12%) has considered relocating their home specifically to avoid the impacts of global warming, such as heat waves, wildfires, or sea-level rise.

APA

Yale Program on Climate Change Communication (2025). Climate Change in the American Mind: Beliefs & Attitudes. https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/app/uploads/2025/07/climate-change-american-mind-beliefs-attitudes-spring-2025.pdf

Chicago

Yale Program on Climate Change Communication. Climate Change in the American Mind: Beliefs & Attitudes. 2025. https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/app/uploads/2025/07/climate-change-american-mind-beliefs-attitudes-spring-2025.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Yale Program on Climate Change Communication |title=Climate Change in the American Mind: Beliefs & Attitudes |date=March 2025 |url=https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/app/uploads/2025/07/climate-change-american-mind-beliefs-attitudes-spring-2025.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{yaleprogramonclimatechangecommunication2025climate, author = {{Yale Program on Climate Change Communication}}, title = {{Climate Change in the American Mind: Beliefs \& Attitudes}}, institution = {Yale Program on Climate Change Communication}, year = {2025}, month = mar, url = {https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/app/uploads/2025/07/climate-change-american-mind-beliefs-attitudes-spring-2025.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }