Americans increasingly sure global warming is happening
As many of you know, the global climate negotiations in Madrid ended in disappointment, in no small part due to obstruction by the Trump Administration. The 2020 U.S. election will clearly be one of the biggest turning points in world history, with enormous repercussions for the fight to maintain a safe climate.
In that context, our latest national survey finds that 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 began and has increased by 14 percentage points over the past five years (since October 2014).
- Other survey highlights include:About seven in ten Americans (72%) think global warming is happening. Only about one in eight Americans (12%) think global warming is not happening. Americans who think global warming is happening outnumber those who think it isn't by more than 6 to 1.
- About six in ten Americans (59%) understand that global warming is mostly human-caused. By contrast, only three in ten (30%) think it is due mostly to natural changes in the environment.
- Two in three Americans (66%) say they are at least "somewhat worried" about global warming. Three in ten (30%) are "very worried" about it – a record high.
- More than six in ten Americans (64%) think global warming is affecting weather in the United States, and 31% think weather is being affected "a lot." Half or more think global warming made the melting of the Greenland ice sheets (64%), European heat waves (55%), and/or California wildfires (50%) worse.
- 45% of Americans think people in the United States are being harmed by global warming "right now" – an increase of 12 percentage points over the past five years.
- More than half of Americans (55%) understand that most scientists think global warming is happening, an increase of 11 percentage points over the past five years. However, only about one in five (22%) understand how strong the level of consensus among scientists is (i.e., that more than 90% of climate scientists think human-caused global warming is happening), although this is the highest level since we began asking this question and reflects a 13-point increase in understanding the scientific consensus over the past five years.
The report includes many other important findings, including how often Americans hear and talk about global warming.
Please stay tuned for a report on the Politics of Global Warming early next year, along with a special report on climate activism.
Meanwhile, hoping you and your family have a wonderful holiday season and happy New Year!
Owner/Founder at Climate Crust
4 年I think it is more than just a change in attitude. I believe there is now a heightened sense of awareness in terms of what climate change is and what it is doing. I believe that people are generally good and want to do the right thing. They just lack the knowledge of what that might be. Our biggest obstacle now is spreading the word in terms of what they as individuals can do to help.
Risk & Resilience Advisor, Co-Founder & Director Emeritus, ARISE-U.S. Network
4 年This change in attitude brings us to an important tipping point.? It's been a long time coming for most of us.? Conditions are right to leverage this shift so let's turn up the volume in everything we're doing and hope to do.??
Qingdao Telian Machinery Co.,Ltd- Foreign Trade Clerk
4 年Better late than never!
Award-winning journalist, editor and novelist
4 年Sorry kids, you're a little late.?