Report · Nov 19, 2015
Climate Change in the American Mind: October 2015
By Anthony Leiserowitz, Edward Maibach, Connie Roser-Renouf, Geoff Feinberg and Seth Rosenthal
Filed under: Beliefs & Attitudes
2. Global Warming Attitudes
2.1. Over Half of Americans Are Worried About Global Warming, But Few Are “Very” Worried.
Over half of Americans (57%) say they are at least “somewhat worried” about global warming, but only 16% say they are “very worried.” Worry about global warming has increased 5 points since spring 2015, an increase that is driven mostly by people who now say they are “very worried” (+5 points since the spring).
Likewise, over half of Americans (62%) say global warming is at least “somewhat” important to them personally, but only one in four (26%) says it is “extremely” or “very” important. About four in ten (38%) say the issue is “not too” or “not at all” important to them.
2.2. Two in Three Americans Feel “Interested” In Global Warming; Half Feel “Helpless” and Half Feel “Hopeful” About It.
When asked whether or not they feel specific emotions when thinking about the issue of global warming, two in three say they feel very or moderately “interested” (67%). Half say they feel “hopeful” about global warming (50%), but a similar number say they feel “helpless” (53%).
