climate change in the american mind

The April 2019 survey reveals that 69% of Americans believe global warming is happening, with 55% attributing it primarily to human activities. While 62% express worry and 64% consider the issue personally important, social engagement remains low, as 63% rarely or never discuss it with family and friends. Public perception of risk is highest for future generations (69%) and plant/animal species (71%), while 38% believe people in the U.S. are being harmed 'right now.' The report also highlights a gap in scientific literacy, with only 17% aware that over 90% of climate scientists agree on human-caused warming. Americans primarily conceptualize global warming as an environmental (75%) and scientific (69%) issue, and 60% believe it is currently affecting U.S. weather.

• A significant majority of Americans believe global warming is occurring, with 69% stating it is happening and 46% feeling "extremely" or "very" sure of this fact. Conversely, only 16% believe it is not happening, and 8% are highly certain it is not.
• While 55% of Americans believe global warming is mostly human-caused, there is a lack of understanding regarding the strength of scientific consensus; only 17% know that more than 90% of climate scientists agree on human-caused warming.
• Emotional and personal concern is prevalent, with 62% of Americans reporting they are at least "somewhat worried" and 64% stating the issue is personally important to them.
• Perceptions of harm are highest for non-human species (71%) and future generations (69%), while 38% believe people in the U.S. are being harmed "right now."
• Social engagement with the topic is limited; 63% of Americans rarely or never discuss global warming with family and friends, and only 45% perceive a social expectation (injunctive norm) to take action.
• Americans primarily view global warming through environmental (75%) and scientific (69%) lenses, followed by severe weather (64%) and agriculture (63%). It is least commonly viewed as a religious issue (9%).
• There is a general sense of efficacy and hope for technological solutions, with 64% disagreeing that it is too late to act and 49% believing new technologies can solve the problem without requiring major lifestyle changes.
• A majority of Americans (60%) believe global warming is affecting U.S. weather, with specific local concerns including extreme heat (69%), droughts (64%), and flooding (60%).

APA

Yale Program on Climate Change Communication (2019). climate change in the american mind. https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/app/uploads/2019/06/Climate_Change_American_Mind_April_2019c.pdf

Chicago

Yale Program on Climate Change Communication. climate change in the american mind. 2019. https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/app/uploads/2019/06/Climate_Change_American_Mind_April_2019c.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Yale Program on Climate Change Communication |title=climate change in the american mind |date=April 2019 |url=https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/app/uploads/2019/06/Climate_Change_American_Mind_April_2019c.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{yaleprogramonclimatechangecommunication2019climate, author = {{Yale Program on Climate Change Communication}}, title = {{climate change in the american mind}}, institution = {Yale Program on Climate Change Communication}, year = {2019}, month = apr, url = {https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/app/uploads/2019/06/Climate_Change_American_Mind_April_2019c.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }