As Donald Trump Steps Into Office, Record Number Of Americans Are “Very Worried” About Global Warming
A new representative survey of Americans has found that a record number are “very worried” about global warming, while a majority of respondents professed some measure of concern about the issue.
Conducted by the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication and the George Mason University Center for Climate Change Communication in late 2016, the new survey polled 1,226 American adults, and found that a record high of 19% of respondents professed to be “very worried” about global warming. In total, 61% of Americans say they are “very” or “somewhat” worried about global warming — very nearly the high point first recorded in 2008.
The survey also found that 70% of Americans believe that global warming is actually happening, while only 13% Americans believe that global warming is not happening at all. Those who do believe global warming is happening are now at a record high of confidence in their belief, with 45% saying they are “extremely” or “very sure” that global warming is happening, while only 7% are “extremely” or “very sure” global warming isn’t happening.
55% of Americans now believe that global warming is mostly caused by humans, while 30% believe it is due mostly to natural changes in the environment.
“Despite the election of a president who has described global warming as a hoax, Americans are increasingly convinced global warming is happening and are more worried about it,” said lead researcher Anthony Leiserowitz, PhD. of Yale University. “This indicates that on this issue, there is a growing gap between the views of the American public and the incoming Trump administration.”
“Americans also continue to support climate action, as our recent report on the Politics of Global Warming found,” added co-lead investigator Edward Maibach, PhD. of George Mason University. “Americans across party lines support participating in the Paris international agreement, limiting carbon pollution from coal-fired power plants, and using regulations and/or taxes to limit global warming.”
A full breakdown of all the questions and responses can be found here.
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