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294 documents from Yale Program on Climate Change Communication
global warming’s six americas in october 2014: perceptions of the health consequences of global warming and update on key beliefs
The report finds that most Americans, including those most concerned about global warming, have a shallow understanding of its specific health impacts. While the 'Alarmed' and 'Concerned' segments generally believe global warming is harmful to health and support government action and funding, they struggle to name specific health threats unprompted. Trust in information sources varies by segment, with primary care physicians and family and friends holding the highest overall credibility across the population.
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Document type: Report
Voters will support pro-climate candidates with pledges, time and money
The document finds that millions of registered U.S. voters are open to supporting pro-climate candidates if prompted by a trusted person. Approximately 27% of registered voters who are worried about global warming would sign a pledge to vote for such candidates, while 17% would volunteer their time and 16% would donate money.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Politics and Global Warming
The report finds that registered voters are significantly more likely to support political candidates who favor action to reduce global warming and are more likely to vote against those who oppose such action. While a strong divide exists between Democrats and Republicans, there is a notable split within the Republican Party, with liberal/moderate Republicans sharing more similarities with moderate/conservative Democrats than with conservative Republicans on issues such as the occurrence of global warming, levels of concern, and support for carbon dioxide emission limits on coal-fired power plants.
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Document type: Executive summary
Few Americans Very Worried About Global Warming
A 2014 survey of 1,013 U.S. adults found that while 55% of Americans are at least 'somewhat worried' about global warming, only 15% are 'very worried'. The data suggests a gap between the increasing physical evidence of climate impacts and public perception, with many Americans viewing global warming as a distant threat rather than a personal risk.
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Document type: Briefing
Public Understanding vs. Scientific Consensus
The document highlights a significant discrepancy between the scientific consensus—where 97% of peer-reviewed papers acknowledge human-caused global warming—and the American public, where only 44% believe it is both happening and human-caused. It further notes that only 12% of Americans are aware of the high level of scientific agreement, a misunderstanding that may hinder support for climate action.
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Document type: Briefing
WHAT’S IN A NAME? GLOBAL WARMING VERSUS CLIMATE CHANGE
The report finds that 'global warming' and 'climate change' are not synonymous for many Americans, with 'global warming' generally evoking stronger negative emotions, a greater sense of urgency, and higher levels of personal and familial threat. While the terms are largely synonymous for Republicans, the use of 'climate change' appears to reduce engagement among Democrats, Independents, and liberals.
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Document type: Report
How Stable is Earth’s Climate?
A nationally representative study found that Americans hold diverse views on climate stability, with the 'Threshold' model being the most common. The findings indicate a strong correlation between a person's mental model of climate stability and their acceptance of global warming, with those viewing the system as fragile, gradual, or threshold-based being more likely to believe global warming is happening compared to those with random or stable models.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Climate Change in the American Mind
The April 2014 survey finds that 64% of Americans believe global warming is occurring, a figure that has remained stable over three years. Notably, certainty among those who believe global warming is happening increased from 54% in May 2011 to 62% in April 2014, while certainty among those who believe it is not happening decreased from 52% to 41% over the same period.
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Document type: Executive summary
Climate Change in the American Mind
The April 2014 report 'Climate Change in the American Mind' reveals that while a majority of Americans (64%) believe global warming is happening and are increasingly certain of this fact, there is a significant gap between public perception and scientific consensus. Only 44% of Americans believe global warming is both happening and human-caused, and only 12% are aware that 90% or more of climate scientists agree on this. Furthermore, the report finds that most Americans perceive global warming as a distant threat; only 15% are 'very worried' and only 32% believe people in the U.S. are being harmed 'right now'. Socially, the issue is not widely discussed, with two-thirds of Americans rarely or never discussing it with family and friends, often due to perceived disagreement.
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Document type: Report
Americans' Actions to Limit Global Warming
The report details the extent to which Americans are willing to participate in campaigns, petitions, and voting pledges to address global warming, as well as their use of consumer activism to reward or punish companies based on their climate actions.
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Document type: Executive summary
Extreme Weather and Climate Change in the American Mind in November 2013
The report details shifts in how Americans in the Northeast, Midwest, South, and West experienced extreme weather between Fall 2012 and November 2013. It highlights a general consensus on the vulnerability of agriculture and electricity systems, with a majority of citizens advocating for government prioritization of water supplies, transportation, and public health. Additionally, 56% of Americans believe global warming is impacting U.S. weather.
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Document type: Executive summary
Climate Change in the American Mind: Americans' Global Warming Beliefs and Attitudes in November 2013
The November 2013 survey indicates that while 63% of Americans believe global warming is happening, there was an increase in those who believe it is not happening (23%). Approximately 51% of respondents express worry about global warming, though only 38% believe they will be personally harmed by it, compared to 65% who believe it will harm future generations and wildlife.
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Document type: Executive summary
Politics & Global Warming
The report finds that while Democrats are most likely to believe in human-caused global warming and support climate policies, liberal and moderate Republicans often align with the mainstream public, whereas conservative Republicans hold distinctly different views. A majority of registered voters support increasing energy efficiency and renewable energy to reduce fossil fuel dependence, and most are more likely to vote for candidates who support climate action than those who oppose it. However, there is a widespread belief across the political spectrum that individual citizens have relatively little influence on government decisions compared to large campaign contributors and fossil fuel companies.
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Document type: Report
Americans’ Actions to Limit Global Warming
A November 2013 survey of 830 American adults reveals a decline in consumer activism and social discussion regarding global warming since 2011. While a small percentage of the population actively contacts government officials, there is latent potential for civic engagement, particularly if prompted by trusted individuals. The 'Alarmed' segment of the population is significantly more likely to engage in all forms of climate action. Household energy-saving behaviors, such as using compact fluorescent light bulbs, have remained relatively stable over five years.
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Document type: Report
Climate Change in the Texan Mind
The report finds that while a majority of Texans (70%) believe global warming is occurring, fewer than half (44%) attribute it primarily to human activities. There is high consensus among those who believe in global warming regarding future negative impacts in Texas, specifically heat waves (95%) and water shortages (92%). Additionally, a majority of respondents believe that government officials, citizens, and corporations should all do more to address the issue.
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Document type: Executive summary
Americans' Actions to Limit Global Warming
The report details how Americans integrate environmental considerations into their purchasing habits and civic engagement. A majority of consumers express intent to buy energy-efficient home appliances and locally grown food, while a smaller percentage engage in active civic behaviors such as signing petitions or donating to climate-related causes.
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Document type: Executive summary
Extreme Weather and Climate Change in the American Mind
A survey of Americans reveals that 58% believe global warming affects U.S. weather, with significant portions of the population attributing the severity of events like the 2012 record warmth, the Midwest/Great Plains drought, and Superstorms Sandy and Nemo to climate change. The report notes an increase in the perception that U.S. weather has worsened over recent years, with 85% of respondents reporting personal experience with extreme weather in the past year, most commonly high winds and extreme heat.
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Document type: Executive summary
Climate Change in the American Mind
The report finds that while a majority of Americans believe global warming is happening, this belief and the level of worry about it declined between Fall 2012 and April 2013, potentially due to seasonal weather effects. It highlights a persistent perception of climate change as a distant threat, though a significant minority now see it as a current harm to themselves and their communities.
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Document type: Report
public support for climate and energy policies in april 2013
The report finds that while a majority of Americans prioritize clean energy and global warming action, support for specific policies has declined since 2008. There is strong support for renewable energy research and tax rebates for energy-efficient products, but limited support for revenue-neutral carbon taxes. Significant partisan divides exist, particularly regarding the Keystone XL pipeline and the priority level of global warming.
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Document type: Report
How Americans Communicate About Global Warming
The report finds that most Americans rarely discuss global warming, with only 33% doing so occasionally or often with family and friends. Communication is predominantly private and face-to-face, particularly following extreme weather events, while public engagement via social media or government contact remains low. The 'Alarmed' segment of the population is the most active in public and political communication, whereas all segments identify close personal relationships as the most influential factor in convincing them to take action.
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Document type: Report