Climate Change in the American Mind: Spring 2026
Scientific Reports
Grades9, 10, 11, 12, APCivics, Geography
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Provided by Yale Program on Climate Change Communication
What it is
- This report presents findings from a nationally representative survey of American adults describing their beliefs and attitudes about global warming, organized into sections on beliefs, perceived risks, worry, personal and social engagement, impacts, personal agency, and how Americans conceptualize the issue.
- The report includes extensive data tables, charts, and appendices detailing the survey method and sample demographics, offering a window into how public opinion research is designed and communicated.
Teaching tips
Classroom Implementation:
- Use this resource to discuss the importance of talking about climate change.
- Consider posting the charts around the room and having students go on a gallery walk, writing their analyses for each as they move through.
Extensions:
- Have students conduct surveys with peers and compare their findings with the data presented in the paper.
- Have students discuss how public perceptions of climate change can influence policy change.
Related Resources:
- Follow this resource with this related resource to see how Americans in 2026 view public policy and politics when it comes to climate change.
Scientist's Note:
- In giving a detailed analysis of Americans' beliefs about climate change, the study provides many examples of data visualization and gives insight into how scientific studies are conducted using surveys.
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Hosted on climatecommunication.yale.edu
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