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 Activism: Beliefs, Attitudes, and Behaviors- November 2019
Drawing on a nationally representative survey (N = 1,303; including 1,114 registered voters), this report describes how Americans view climate activism – including their views of public activists, their sense of efficacy about climate activism, and the activism...
Politics & Global Warming: November 2019
Drawing on a nationally representative survey (N = 1,303; including 1,114 registered voters), this report describes how Democratic, Independent, and Republican registered voters view global warming, climate and energy policies, and personal and collective action....
Climate Change in the American Mind: November 2019
A majority of Americans are "extremely" or "very" sure global warming is happening, outnumbering those who are sure it is not happening by more than 7 to 1. The percentage of Americans who are sure global warming is happening (52%) is the highest since our surveys...
Climate Change in the American Mind: April 2019
About seven in ten Americans (69%) think global warming is happening. Only about one in six Americans(16%) think global warming is not happening. Americans who think global warming is happening out number those who think it isn’t by more than a 4 to 1 ratio....
Climate Change in the American Mind: December 2018
This report documents a continued upward trend in Americans’ concern about global warming, as reflected in several key indicators tracked since 2008, including substantial increases in Americans’ certainty that global warming is happening and harming people in the...
Politics & Global Warming: October 2017
Drawing from our most recent nationally representative survey, we find substantial changes in climate change beliefs, bipartisan support for a variety of climate and clean energy policies, demand for action by companies, citizens, and governments, and individual...
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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