Climate Change in the American Mind
Public opinion plays a critical role in the American response to global warming. Our twice a year Climate Change in the American Mind nationally representative surveys investigate, track, and explain public climate change knowledge, risk perceptions, policy support and behavior.
Our findings are published in numerous reports and peer-reviewed articles and are cited by leading news organizations, academic journals, and online media around the world. Conducted with our partners at the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, it is the largest and most comprehensive resource on American public opinion about climate change.
Beliefs and Attitudes Reports
Politics and Policy Reports
Climate Notes
Climate Notes are short articles that interpret and analyze the research produced by our Climate Change in the American Mind research reports.
Our Climate Change in the American Mind Work
Climate Change in the American Mind: December 2020
Our latest national survey finds Americans who think global warming is happening outnumber those who think it is not by a ratio of more than 5 to 1 (72% versus 13%). Those who are “very” or “extremely” sure global warming is happening outnumber those who are “very” or...
Politics & Global Warming: December 2020
Drawing on a nationally representative survey (N = 1,036; including 949 registered voters), this report describes how registered voters view a variety of climate and energy policies. This survey was fielded from December 3 – 16, 2020 – after the results of the 2020...
Politics & Global Warming: April 2020
Drawing on a nationally representative survey (N = 1,029; including 911 registered voters), this report describes how Democratic, Independent, and Republican registered voters view global warming, climate and energy policies, and personal and collective action. This...
Climate Change in the American Mind: April 2020
Our latest national survey finds that, in the midst of the COVID-19 epidemic, American public opinion about climate change has remained steady and, in some cases, reached all-time highs. For example, Americans’ understanding that climate change is happening has tied...
Americans’ Risk Perceptions and Emotional Responses to COVID-19: April 2020
Drawing on a scientific national survey (N = 3,933; including 3,188 registered voters), this report describes how the American public is responding to the spread of COVID-19 in the U.S. Download Report Executive Summary Most Americans Say the U.S. Coronavirus...
American Public Responses to COVID-19: April 2020
Drawing on a scientific national survey (N = 3,933; including 3,188 registered voters), this report describes Americans’ coronavirus knowledge, attitudes, vulnerabilities, protective behaviors, and communication needs in an effort to inform the public health...
Explore Our Data
Whether you’re a researcher, journalist, policymaker, educator, advocate, or simply curious about public opinion on climate change, our interactive tools make it easy to explore how Americans’ beliefs, risk perceptions, policy preferences, and behaviors have evolved over time. Dive into nationally representative data, compare trends across demographic and political groups, and uncover insights to inform research, communication, and decision-making.
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