Climate Change in the American Mind

The September 2021 'Climate Change in the American Mind' report reveals that 76% of Americans believe global warming is happening, with 60% attributing it primarily to human activity. While 70% express worry and a majority perceive risks to their local communities from extreme weather, there is a significant gap in understanding the strength of scientific consensus, with only 24% aware that over 90% of climate scientists agree on human-caused warming. The report also highlights that most Americans conceptualize global warming as an environmental and scientific issue, though a growing number view it through the lenses of morality and social justice.

• A significant majority of Americans believe global warming is occurring, with 76% stating it is happening and 57% feeling 'very' or 'extremely' sure. This represents the highest percentage recorded since the surveys began in 2008.
• While 60% of Americans believe global warming is mostly human-caused, there is a marked lack of awareness regarding the depth of scientific agreement; only 24% recognize that more than 90% of climate scientists hold this view.
• Emotional responses are predominantly negative or concerned, with 70% of Americans reporting they are at least 'somewhat worried' and 35% stating they are 'very worried.' Other common emotions include interest (66%), disgust (54%), anger (47%), and outrage (45%).
• Americans increasingly perceive global warming as a current and personal threat, with 55% believing people in the U.S. are being harmed 'right now' and 52% reporting they have personally experienced its effects.
• Despite personal concern, social engagement remains low; 61% of Americans 'rarely' or 'never' discuss global warming with family and friends, and only 24% hear people they know discuss it at least once a month.
• Public efficacy beliefs are generally positive, with 67% disagreeing that it is too late to act and 61% disagreeing that individual actions make no difference. However, the public is split (48% agree, 52% disagree) on whether new technologies can solve the problem without requiring significant lifestyle changes.
• A majority of Americans believe global warming is affecting U.S. weather (70%) and various environmental hazards, most notably extreme heat (77%) and wildfires (76%). Local risk perception is high, with 64% viewing extreme weather as a moderate or high risk to their community over the next decade.
• Americans primarily conceptualize global warming as an environmental (79%) and scientific (74%) issue. There has been a five-year increase in those viewing it as a moral issue (+12 percentage points) and a poverty issue (+12 percentage points).

APA

Yale Program on Climate Change Communication (2021). Climate Change in the American Mind. https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/app/uploads/2022/03/climate-change-american-mind-september-2021b.pdf

Chicago

Yale Program on Climate Change Communication. Climate Change in the American Mind. 2021. https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/app/uploads/2022/03/climate-change-american-mind-september-2021b.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Yale Program on Climate Change Communication |title=Climate Change in the American Mind |date=September 2021 |url=https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/app/uploads/2022/03/climate-change-american-mind-september-2021b.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{yaleprogramonclimatechangecommunication2021climate, author = {{Yale Program on Climate Change Communication}}, title = {{Climate Change in the American Mind}}, institution = {Yale Program on Climate Change Communication}, year = {2021}, month = sep, url = {https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/app/uploads/2022/03/climate-change-american-mind-september-2021b.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }