When it comes to climate, Americans mostly are on the same page – even if they’re quiet.
The majority of Americans (74%) understand that climate change is happening but aren’t talking about it, according to a new study by the Yale Project on Climate Change Communication and the George Mason University Center for Climate Change Communication conducted in April 2023. Most Americans (61%) understand that climate change is mostly human-caused (58%) and that most scientists think global warming is happening. However, only 1 in 5 Americans understand how strong the consensus is among scientists (over 90% of scientists believe it’s happening.)
Approximately half of Americans (48%) think that people in the US are being harmed by climate change “right now,” the majority of people believe that global warming will affect future generations of people (71%) and animal species (70%).
Even though Americans understand climate change is happening, most aren’t discussing it. 66% say they “rarely” or “never” discuss global warming with family and friends, while 34% say they do “occasionally” or often. With 65% of Americans saying that global warming is “extremely,” “very,” or “somewhat” important to them personally, there’s a disconnect between concern and talking about it.
About half of Americans (52%) say they hear about global warming in the media about one time a month or more, and only 23% say they hear friends or family talk about global warming once a month or more frequently.
This gap might be because social norms can influence behavior. For example, only 3% of Americans think that it’s “extremely’ important to friends and family that they take action to reduce global warming. (13% said it’s “very” or “moderately (25%) important.)
Even though we’re not talking about it, about three in ten Americans (28%) look for climate solutions several times a year or more. Six in ten (61%) look for solutions once a year or less.
About one in ten Americans (11%) have considered moving to avoid the impacts of global warming. Only 38% think their friends or family make a great effort to reduce global warming.
Talking about climate change is the “most important” thing you can do about it, according to climate scientist Katherine Hayhoe.
So grab a coffee (or bourbon), text a friend to hang out, and start discussing climate today.
Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash
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