Yale Program on Climate Change Communication

Home / Widening polarization in Americans’ perception of the health harms of climate change (2014–2024) / 2026_06_health_harms_fig4

· June 29, 2026

2026_06_health_harms_fig4

This table shows the percent of Americans who say that specific energy sources, including coal, gas, nuclear, wind, and solar, are extremely, very, or moderately harmful to people’s health. 65% of Americans believe coal is harmful to health, compared with 38% for gas and 53% for nuclear energy. An increasing number of Americans, including both Republicans and Democrats, incorrectly believe that wind and solar are harmful to people’s health. Data: Yale Program on Climate Change Communication and George Mason University Center for Climate Change Communication, December 2024.