Climate Change in the American Mind (A Study)
Nearly two in three Americans (63%) believe global warming is happening. Relatively few –
only 16 percent – believe it is not. However, since Fall 2012, the percentage of Americans who
believe global warming is real has dropped 7 points to 63%, likely influenced by the relatively
cold winter of 2012-13 (compared to the prior year) and an unusually cold March just before
the survey was conducted. In March of 2012, after an unusually warm winter, 66 percent of
Americans believed global warming was happening; thus, seasonal effects may account for at
least some of the change we observe.
• Those who believe global warming is happening are more certain of their convictions than
those who do not. Of the 63% of Americans who believe global warming is happening, most
say they are “very” (33%) or “extremely sure” (27%). By contrast, of the unconvinced, fewer
are very (28%) or extremely sure of their view (18%).
• About half of Americans (49%) believe global warming – if it is happening – is caused mostly
by human activities, a decrease of 5 points since Fall 2012, but similar to levels stretching back
several years.
• More Americans believe that “most scientists think global warming is happening” than believe
there is widespread disagreement among scientists (42% versus 33%, respectively). One in five
Americans (20%) continue to feel they “don’t know enough to say” and fewer than one in 20
(4%) believe that “most scientists think global warming is not happening.”
http://environment.yale.edu/climate-communication/files/Climate-Beliefs-April-2013.pdf