Why is the United States Not More Worried About Climate Change?

Scientists are calling for immediate action to address climate change as the Earth’s temperature?rises, fueling more intense storms?and extreme weather. However, climate change remains a lower priority for some Americans, and a subset of the public rejects that it’s happening at all. Also, there is a clear divide in concern based on political affiliation, with Democrats being much more concerned than Republicans.

?Climate Change Science

?There is a nearly unanimous?scientific consensus?that the?Earth has been consistently warming since the start of the?Industrial Revolution, that the rate of recent warming is largely unprecedented,?and that this warming is mainly the result of a rapid increase in atmospheric?carbon dioxide (CO2)?caused by human activities. The human activities causing this warming include?fossil fuel combustion,?cement production, and?land use?changes such as?deforestation,?with a significant supporting role from the other?greenhouse gases?such as?methane?and?nitrous oxide. This human role in climate change is considered "unequivocal" and "incontrovertible".

?Nearly all actively publishing?climate scientists?say humans are causing climate change. Surveys of the scientific literature are another way to measure scientific consensus. A 2019 review of scientific papers found the consensus on the cause of climate change to be at 100%,?and a 2021 study concluded that over 99% of scientific papers agree on the human cause of climate change.?The small percentage of papers that disagreed with the consensus often contained errors or could not be replicated.

?The evidence for global warming due to human influence has been recognized by the national science academies of all the major industrialized countries.?In the?scientific literature, there is a solid consensus that global surface temperatures have increased in recent decades and that human-induced emissions of?greenhouse gases cause the trend. No scientific body of national or international standing disagrees with this view. A few organizations with members in?extractive industries?hold?non-committal positions,?and some have tried to persuade the public that climate change is not happening, or if the climate is changing, it is not because of human influence,?attempting to?sow doubt in the scientific consensus.

?Climate Change Denial

?Climate change denial is a form of?science denial?characterized by rejecting, refusing to acknowledge, disputing, or fighting the?scientific consensus on climate change. Those promoting denial commonly use rhetorical tactics to give the appearance of a scientific controversy where there is none. Climate change denial includes unreasonable doubts about the extent to which humans cause climate change, its?effects on nature and human society, and the potential of?adaptation to global warming?by human actions. To a lesser extent, climate change denial can also be implicit when people accept the science but?fail to reconcile it with their beliefs or actions. Several studies have analyzed these positions as forms of?denialism,?pseudoscience, or?propaganda.

?Climate scientists, especially in the United States, have reported?government and oil-industry pressure?to censor or suppress their work and hide scientific data, as well as directives not to discuss the subject publicly. The?fossil fuels lobby?has been identified as overtly or covertly supporting efforts to undermine or discredit the scientific consensus on climate change.

?Industrial, political, and ideological interests organize activities to undermine public trust in climate science. Climate change denial has been associated with the fossil fuels lobby, the?Koch brothers, industry advocates, ultraconservative?think tanks, and?ultraconservative alternative media. More than 90% of papers skeptical of climate change originate from right-wing think tanks. Climate change denial undermines efforts to?act on or adapt to climate change and exerts a powerful influence on the?politics of climate change.

?In the 1970s,?oil companies?published research that broadly concurred with the scientific community's view on climate change. Since then, for several decades, oil companies have been organizing a widespread and systematic?climate change denial campaign?to seed public disinformation, a strategy that has been compared to the?tobacco industry's?organized denial of the hazards of tobacco smoking. Some of the campaigns are even carried out by the same people who previously spread the tobacco industry's denialist propaganda.

?The Level of Concern in the U.S.

?While most Americans believe that climate change is happening, there has been a decline in the sense of urgency surrounding the issue has declined.?This is reflected in the decreasing number of people who view climate change as a very serious problem and the reduced support for government action to address it .

?Americans are less concerned about the impact of climate change than citizens in Europe, particularly Northern European countries. Despite Americans ' sincere and passionate resolve to be green, Europe is more environmentally conscious than the United States. According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, which used 2006 data, per capita CO2 emissions in the U.S. were 19.78 tons, compared to 9.6 tons in the U.K., 8.05 tons in Italy, and 6.6 tons in France.

?A 2022 European Investment Bank survey showed cross-party consensus on climate change in countries like Germany, where over 80% of voters across the political spectrum view it as a serious threat.

?In the U.S., representative Pew Research Center surveys conducted in 2023 show that fewer than half of Americans reject the idea that humans are major contributors to climate change or say addressing the issue is not too important for the country. Even smaller shares take the most skeptical views, saying the Earth is not warming at all and that no action should be taken.

?Overall, 46% of Americans say human activity is the primary reason the Earth is warming. By contrast, 26% say warming is mainly caused by natural environmental patterns and another 14% do not believe there’s evidence the Earth is warming at all.

?A 2022 survey by Gallup found that 70% of Americans under 30 now consider climate change a “major threat,” compared to only 52% a decade ago. Younger Americans are more likely to prioritize environmental issues, push for sustainable policies, and advocate for renewable energy solutions. This shift could indicate a future where climate change becomes a more central issue across the U.S., though generational turnover will take time.

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?More Americans Believe Developing Countries Should Address Climate Change Rather Than the U.S.

?While in previous polls Americans believed developing countries had the least responsibility for addressing climate change, that changed this year when Americans were explicitly asked about rapidly developing countries like India and China. More Americans say that quickly developing countries like India and China are more responsible for addressing climate change than developed countries. Republicans were more likely to say that the responsibility fell on rapidly developing countries like India and China countries (48 percent), in line with what?Republican leaders have said . In fact, for Republicans, rapidly developing countries bear the greatest responsibility out of all the choices given. Democrats are more likely than Republicans to say that corporations and industry (80 vs 45 percent) and the federal government (76 vs 40 percent) have a responsibility to address climate change, followed by rapidly developing countries (68 percent) and then developed countries (66 percent). Individuals, Americans say, bear the least responsibility. The belief that individuals are responsible for acting on climate change has steadily declined over time.

?Americans Are Not Willing to Pay for Climate Policy.

?While the majority of Americans support climate policies, including a carbon tax on companies, when it comes to paying for these policies in the form of a monthly fee on their energy use, they are much less supportive. In fact, more than half of Americans are unwilling to pay any amount of money to combat climate change. Forty-five percent are willing to pay more than last year, but down from prior years of the poll. That said, a consistent minority is willing to pay a significant amount to combat climate change.

?The Political Divide

?Climate change has become a highly politicized issue in the United States. Democrats are more likely to believe in and be concerned about climate change compared to Republicans. This political divide is evident in the varying levels of support for government action on climate change,?with Democrats showing much higher support than Republicans .

?Research by the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication finds that 87% of liberal Democrats are “very concerned” about climate change, while only 19% of conservative Republicans share this view.

?About half of Americans agree that taking steps to reduce emissions, expand clean energy, and protect air, water, land, and wildlife are all important priorities for the next president. But the divide is sharp along party lines, with about three-quarters of Democrats supporting these policy goals. Fossil fuel development is the only priority polled that Republicans support more than Democrats. Even there, the majority of the support comes from Republicans over 45, with 53 per cent supporting this. Younger Republicans are closer to Democrats on this issue than they are their older Republican counterparts, with only 35 per cent supporting fossil fuel development. Younger Republicans also support clean energy expansion more than older Republicans (37 vs 28 per cent).

?Democrats overwhelmingly support climate policies, such as regulations to limit emissions from?power plants?and?vehicles, incentives for?electric vehicles, and funding to?help states ?adapt—all recently enacted policies. The majority of Republicans—and to a lesser extent independents—do not support these policies, including funding to help states adapt. While a carbon tax remains a politically divisive policy, most Americans say they would support a tax that corporations would pay on their emissions—including about three-quarters of Democrats, half of independents, and 40 percent of Republicans. Americans, on average, are the least supportive of expanding U.S. natural gas exports, with Democrats (37 per cent) and independents (32 per cent) being less supportive than Republicans (50 per cent)—this as the Biden administration paused the expansion of U.S. natural gas exports earlier this year.

?At both the county and state levels, populations with a high percentage of Republican voters had the strongest correlation with climate change deniers. Carbon dependency of the economy was also significantly high at the state level. The strongest negative correlations (at both state and county levels) were level of education and COVID-19 vaccination rates. Integrating these data into a weighted least squares regression model, researchers defined a profile of a "typical" climate change denier : Republican, with no college degree and without COVID-19 vaccination living in a region with a high average annual temperature.

?For the first debate ahead of the?2024 presidential election, Fox News?moderators lobbed a question pressing the presidential hopefuls for their positions on addressing?climate change: “Do you believe human behavior is causing climate change? Raise your hand if you do.”

?None of the candidates did.

??“It’s hot, hot, hot all right,” said Laura Ingraham on her Fox News show. “After all, we’re in the middle of a season called ‘summer.’” Fact check:?Over 3,000 temperature records were broken in the US in July alone, a surge scientists attribute to human-caused climate change, saying it would be “virtually impossible” otherwise.

??“Nature naturally burns itself off every 11 years with natural disaster forest fires,” said Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK). “This is a forest fire.” Fact check:?Historic blazes, such as Canada’s recent fires, are intensified by factors like forest management issues, drought, and conditions worsened by climate change.

??“This is something that is a fact of life in the Sunshine State,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis remarked in a Fox News interview. “I’ve always rejected the politicization of the weather.”

Fact check:?Climate change is warming ocean waters, providing the fuel for increasingly severe hurricanes and typhoons.

?While concern about climate change grows among Americans, many Republican voters remain unconvinced.?GOP leaders continue to argue that climate action, led by “liberal elites,” will harm everyday life, claiming Democrats aim to ban essentials like washing machines, hamburgers, and gas stoves. Presidential candidates have furthered these narratives, blaming climate-focused “wokeism” in corporations.

?It’s a strategic scare tactic, echoing the oil industry’s campaigns from the 1990s, which stoked fears of losing SUVs and “driving around freely” to oppose energy efficiency standards.

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Republicans are making climate a culture war issue.

Republicans have spent years hammering this message to the electorate and it has made a major difference to the average Republican voter.?We can measure the effect of their rhetoric in the polling: A recent?Gallup survey ?looked at partisan divides on a number of issues every 10 years from 2003 to 2023. One of the starkest shifts in the polling was around party views on global warming and environmental issues, ranking alongside gun laws and?abortion?as having the highest polarization. Republicans have become less concerned with global warming, even as the effects have grown more pronounced since 2013. And fewer Republicans think global warming is a result of human activity today than they did 20 years ago.?There are serious consequences to all this, and the far-right plans to translate climate denial into official federal policy that encourages fossil fuels and blocks a?clean energy?transition, should Donald Trump win the next presidential election.

?The conservative think tank Heritage Foundation has drawn a 920-page blueprint called Project 2025 to unravel all of the US’s efforts so far to tackle climate change. It is a methodical, systematic undoing of the federal bureaucracy,?Politico first reported, ?shuttering key programs from the Environmental Protection Agency, slashing climate and clean energy solutions, blocking the expansion of wind and solar on the grid, and turning over pollution oversight to the fossil fuel industry and handpicked Republican officials.

?Other Contributing Factors

?Economic Priorities: Many Americans prioritize economic concerns over environmental issues. During periods of economic hardship, such as high unemployment or inflation, the environment ranks lower among public concerns. This shift in priorities can reduce the perceived urgency of addressing climate change.

?Misinformation and Underestimation: Many Americans underestimate public support for climate action. This misconception can lead to a false sense of complacency, as people may believe the issue is not as pressing as it is. Additionally, some Americans still attribute climate change to natural causes rather than human activities,?which can diminish the perceived need for immediate action .

?Generational Differences: Younger adults are generally more concerned about climate change than older generations. However, even among younger demographics,?there has been a notable decline in the sense of urgency and support for climate action over recent years .

?Economic Structure

The U.S. has historically been heavily dependent on fossil fuel industries, which employ millions of Americans directly and indirectly. This creates economic concerns about climate action that can override environmental concerns. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the fossil fuel industry directly employs about 1.1 million Americans, with an estimated 3.8 million additional indirect jobs. The energy sector is a cornerstone of local economies in regions like Texas and the Appalachian states. Many residents of these regions worry that transitioning to renewable energy sources could lead to job losses or economic instability. According to research by the American Psychological Association, people who work in or are otherwise economically dependent on fossil fuel industries are more likely to express skepticism about climate change. For these individuals, there’s a perception that aggressive climate action could mean personal or local economic harm, which fuels resistance. In comparison, European countries like Denmark have actively transitioned their workforce - their wind energy sector now employs more people than their entire fossil fuel industry did at its peak.

?Geographic Context

Many Americans live in auto-dependent suburban areas and may feel that low-carbon lifestyles are impractical, unlike Europeans who often have access to robust public transportation. Studies from MIT's Center for Energy and Environmental Policy Research suggest that regions with higher fossil fuel employment show consistently lower support for climate action. Urban planning research from the University of Michigan demonstrates that 55% of Americans live in areas where car dependency is almost mandatory, compared to 8% of Germans.

?Energy Prices

Americans historically paid less for energy than Europeans. The International Energy Agency shows US gasoline prices are often less than half of those in Europe, potentially reducing incentives for conservation. A study by Resources for the Future found that lower energy costs correlate with reduced concern about climate change.

?The Influence of Education and Awareness.

Another factor is the role of education. According to research by the National Center for Education Statistics, Americans with higher levels of education are more likely to acknowledge the scientific consensus on climate change. However, climate change education is inconsistent across the U.S., and many schools do not prioritize or emphasize the subject. For comparison, countries like Germany and Sweden have integrated climate science into their core education systems, resulting in higher levels of awareness and concern among the population. Efforts to improve climate literacy in the U.S. are ongoing but have faced resistance, particularly in states where climate science is considered controversial.

?Religious Factors

Pew Research data shows that evangelical Christians, who make up about 25% of the U.S. population, are significantly less likely to accept human-caused climate change. This religious demographic factor is less prominent in most other Western nations.

?Cultural Factors

American culture has traditionally emphasized individualism and free market solutions, which can make collective action on climate change seem less appealing compared to more communally oriented societies. Research by Markus and Kitayama in the Psychological Review highlighted how American individualistic values can conflict with collective action on climate change. The World Values Survey shows that Americans consistently score higher on individualism metrics and lower on support for government intervention compared to other Western nations.

?The Influence of the Media

?The American media landscape is another key factor, with an intense level of polarization, particularly around climate change. Conservative media channels frequently downplay the urgency of climate change or cast doubt on its scientific consensus, often suggesting that climate policies will result in higher taxes, fewer jobs, or unnecessary government control. In a country where 88% of people get at least some of their news from digital media, according to the Pew Research Center, these narratives have a powerful impact on public perception. Media segmentation allows Americans to consume information that reinforces their beliefs, leading to “echo chambers” that can make consensus difficult.

?A 2021 study in Nature Communications analyzed 20 years of climate coverage across US media, finding that 82% of climate skepticism articles appeared in U.S.-based publications compared to 12% in European outlets.

?The Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism found that European media outlets are more likely to frame climate change as a scientific consensus (over 90% of articles) compared to US media (around 70%).

?Media consumption plays a significant role in shaping public perception of climate change. Exposure to right-wing media, which often downplays the severity of climate change,?is associated with lower perceptions of threat and less concern about the issue . Conversely, traditional media exposure can heighten worry and pro-environmental behavioral intentions,?but it does not necessarily lead to a cognitive risk judgment . Different media ecosystems present climate change differently. Some influential U.S. media outlets have historically given significant airtime to climate skepticism, while European media generally presents climate change as scientific consensus.

?Cultural Individualism and Skepticism of Regulation

?American culture highly values individualism and personal freedom, which often includes a skepticism of government regulations and interventions, particularly if they’re perceived to affect personal lifestyles or impose additional costs. Climate policies, such as carbon taxes, emission limits, or regulations on personal vehicles, can be perceived as threats to freedom. In contrast, countries like those in Europe tend to emphasize collective well-being more and accept government intervention for the common good. This cultural divide may explain why Americans are less supportive of sweeping environmental regulations.

?Research from the International Social Survey Program shows that people in more individualistic societies are generally less supportive of government action on climate change compared to those in collectivist cultures. While European nations often discuss climate change in moral and ethical terms (emphasizing responsibility for future generations), discussions in the U.S.

?Conclusion: A Complex, Multi-Faceted Issue

?American attitudes toward climate change reflect a complex blend of economic, cultural, political, and geographical factors. While other countries often view climate change as an existential, bipartisan threat requiring urgent action, the U.S. faces deeply rooted challenges in aligning public opinion. Although awareness and concern are growing, especially among younger generations, these longstanding divides hinder the path to widespread consensus and action.

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Sources:

1. Pew Research Center. (2023). “U.S. Views on Climate Change and Renewable Energy.” Pew Research Center.
2. Yale Program on Climate Change Communication. (2021). "Climate Change in the American Mind."
3. American Psychological Association. (2020). “The Role of Fossil Fuel Jobs in Climate Skepticism.”
4. International Social Survey Program. (2022). “Environmental Attitudes and Actions: Cultural Comparisons.”
5. National Center for Education Statistics. (2021). “Environmental Literacy in U.S. Schools.”
6. Gallup. (2022). “Climate Change Concern by Age Group.”

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