This document provides a summary of polling data on American attitudes toward climate change from 2015 to 2018. It finds that awareness of and concern about climate impacts are increasing, with more Americans noticing effects like severe weather, drought, and flooding in their areas. Understanding of human causation is also growing, along with support for climate action and clean energy. However, concern about environmental quality and belief in our responsibility to act declined in the past year. Overall, solutions like renewable energy and grid modernization enjoy bipartisan support.

1. American Climate Perspectives:
2018 Mid-Year Summary

2. ecoAmerica.orgAmerican Climate Perspectives: 2018 Mid-Year Summary | 2
ecoAmerica
Suggested Citation: Fery, P., Kobayashi, N., & Speiser, M. (2018). American Climate Perspectives: 2018 Mid-Year Summary. ecoAmerica.
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© 2018 ecoAmerica. The contents of this report may be shared and used under a Creative Commons Attribution Non
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Methodology: This report is based on a meta
analysis and synthesis of polls on American climate
attitudes, opinions, and values.

3. ecoAmerica.orgAmerican Climate Perspectives: 2018 Mid-Year Summary | 3
AWARENESS: Americans are noticing a variety of climate impacts, all at steadily increasing rates
over the past three years
Saint Leo University (2015-2018), Yale/George Mason (2018)
Note: no data available for increased flooding in 2015 and severe weather
11%
16% 17%
60%
24%
22%
24%
26%
61%
45%
30%
32% 32%
45%
57%
59%
48%
64%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
2015 2016 2017 2018 2018
(Yale/George Mason)
% of Americans that have noticed…
Increased flooding
Increased drought
conditions
Unusually severe weather/
storms
Warmer temperatures

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AWARENESS: Americans also report they are being personally impacted by climate, with notable
increases in feeling impacted generally and by flooding
31%
36%
44%
41%
37%
42%
44%
48%
56%
48%
59%
67%
59%
68%
53%
51%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
2015 2016 2017 2018
% of Americans personally impacted by…
The effects of global warming
Increased flooding
More frequent droughts
Heat waves
More severe weather
ecoAmerica (2015-2017)
Yale & George Mason (2015-2018): “The effects of global warming”

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UNDERSTANDING: A growing number of Americans believe that human activity is mainly or
partially contributing to climate change
22%
26% 27%
16% 16%
22% 23%
45% 44%
53%53%
55%
58% 58%
55%
65%
68%
64%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
2015 2016 2017 2018
% of Americans that believe…
Climate change is happening mainly
due to human activities (ecoAmerica)
Global climate change is caused
entirely by human activity (Saint Leo
University)
The Earth is warming mostly because
of human activity (Pew)
Global warming is caused mostly by
human activities (Yale & George
Mason)
Global warming is caused by human
activities (Gallup)

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UNDERSTANDING: Americans are beginning to make the connection between extreme weather
and climate change
36%
49%
28%
25%
55%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%
Global warming is a major cause of
the increase in the number and
strength of hurricanes in recent years
The recent hurricanes are most likely
the result of global climate change
Global warming made hurricanes
Harvey, Irma and Maria a lot worse
% of Americans that believe...
Yale & George
Mason (2017)
CNN (2017)
CNN (2005)
WP-ABC (2017)
WP-ABC (2005)

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CONCERN: Personal climate concern remains high—or hitting a high—in America
74%67%
66%
76%
62%
49%
58%
62%
35%
24%
40%
26%
41%
25%
30%
37%
43%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
1989 1991 1999 2001 2003 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018
% of Americans personally concerned about climate change or global warming
Saint Leo University
ecoAmerica
Quinnipiac University
Yale & George Mason
Gallup

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CONCERN: However, in the past year there has been a drop in American concern about
environmental quality and belief we have a responsibility to do something
87%
83%
53%
59%
48%
60%
63%
59%
35%
43%
34%
31%
47%
42%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018
% of Americans that say…
We have a moral responsibility to
create a safe and healthy climate for
ourselves and our children
(ecoAmerica)
I am concerned a great deal about
pollution of drinking water (Gallup)
I am worried a great deal about the
quality of the environment (Gallup)

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61%
71%
58%
70%
47%
55%
36%
57%
28%
19%
32%
23%
36%
54%
35%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
1984 1995 1999 2002 2006 2010 2013 2017
% of Americans the prioritize protecting the environment over economic growth
Protection of the
environment
Economic growth
PRIORITY: A growing number of Americans give greater priority to environmental protections
than economic growth
Gallup (1984-2018)

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URGENCY: A majority of Americans feel personal and collective urgency and ability to reduce the
pollution that is causing damage to our climate
68%
80%
70%
79%
73%
80%
72%
78%
70%
77%
68%
76%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
% of Americans that believe…
ecoAmerica (2015) ecoAmerica (2016) ecoAmerica (2017)
I need to take action now to
reduce pollution that is causing
climate change
We need to take action now to
reduce pollution that is causing
climate change
I can help reduce the pollution
that is causing climate change
We can help reduce the pollution
that is causing climate change

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SOLUTIONS: Americans favor clean energy by a high majority over other sources
87%
63%
47%
43%
37%
88%
61%
42%
37%
30%
34%
89%
83%
42%
45% 43% 42% 41%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Wind and
solar
Solar Wind Natural Gas Oil Offshore
drilling
Nuclear Fracking Coal
% of Americans that support or believe we should produce more…
ecoAmerica (2017) ecoAmerica (2016) University of Michigan (2018) Pew (2017)

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BENEFITS: Significantly more Americans say climate solutions would help the economy, and
environmental protections are critical, no matter what
14%
17%
32%
33%
37%
Unsure
Should not be pursued if they
negatively impact the economy
Create new economic opportunities
Are important even when they
negatively impact the economy
Are critical, no matter what
0% 5% 10%15%20%25%30%35%40%
% of Americans that agree environmental
protections…
64%
16%
12%
8%
% of Americans that agree…
Addressing climate change would help the economy
Addressing climate change would hurt the economy
Make no difference
Not sure ecoAmerica (2017)Saint Leo University (2018)

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BEHAVIORS: Americans are talking about climate change at their place and worship and
purchasing clean energy at increasing rates over prior years
64%
69%
35%
41%
15%
24%
13%
22%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
2015 2016 2017
% of Americans that have…
Discussed climate change with family or
friends
Discussed climate change at work with
colleagues
Discussed climate change at their place of
worship
Purchased wind or solar for their home
ecoAmerica (2015-2017)

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BEHAVIORS: More Americans are speaking publicly on climate, and over one-third are making
climate a voting issue
26%
7%
34%
8%
35%
16%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
50%
Contacted or voted for an elected official based on their support
for taking action on climate change
Spoke at a public gathering about the importance of doing
something about climate change
% of Americans that have…
ecoAmerica (2015) ecoAmerica (2016) ecoAmerica (2017)
Note: 2015-2016 data for “Contacted or voted for…” was based on a different
question asking only “Have you voted for a candidate…”

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ROLE OF GOVERNMENT: A majority of Americans believe government and communities need
to prepare for climate change
48%
57% 59%
62%
70%
83%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2015 2016 2017 2018
% of Americans that believe…
Government is doing too little in
terms of protecting the environment
(Gallup)
Government needs to protect all
people from the impacts of extreme
weather (ecoAmerica)
Communities need to prepare for
floods and droughts and minimize
their impact (ecoAmerica)
Note: Both “Government needs..” and “Believe government is…” were first
asked in 2017

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ROLE OF GOVERNMENT: Americans say the federal government has the responsibility to act,
but the private sector is most likely to do so
28%
17%
13%
42%
52%
41%
34%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
Federal government State government Local government Private sector
% of Americans that say
______ has a
great deal of responsibility to
act to
reduce global warming
(University of Michigan 2018)
% of Americans that say
______ is most likely to
advance climate solutions
(ecoAmerica 2017)

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FEDERAL ACTIONS: Majorities of Americans oppose Trump Administration efforts to rollback
environmental progress
67%
66%
65%
59%
59%
55%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%
Eliminate energy efficiency programs
Reduce funding for research and development of renewable
technology
Reduce funding for NOAA
Reduce funding for the EPA
Reduce funding to research solutions that address climate
change
Expand leasing of oceans and public lands
% of Americans that oppose President Trump’s efforts to…
American Viewpoint & NRDC (2017)

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POLITICS: Political parties find common ground on clean energy, grid modernization, and carbon
tax
81% 83%
87%
75%
87% 85%
81% 79%
86%
89%
83%
89%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
A proposal to reduce climate change pollution
by charging corporate polluters a fee for
pollution they create
A proposal to reduce climate change pollution
by modernizing America's electric grid
The U.S. producing more from wind and solar
than it is today
% of Americans that favor…
National Republicans Independents Democrats
ecoAmerica (2017)

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