Global Warming's Six Americas

The public plays a crucial role in the American response to global warming, through their energy use at home and on the road, consumer choices, social norms, and political support for climate policies and leaders. This project: 1) investigates, explains and tracks public understanding of the causes, consequences, and solutions to climate change, support for climate policies, and the current barriers to action, 2) designs and tests new strategies to engage the public in climate science and solutions.

We are constructing a nationally representative online panel of up to 12,000 American adults and 3,000 teenagers. To date, the project has:

1. Identified six "Americas" within the United States that each respond to climate change in a different way and require tailored climate change education and communications.
2. Constructed an unprecedented climate change communication research instrument to empirically test the messages and messengers that best resonate with and engage these different audiences.
3. Advanced our understanding of the key psychological, cultural, and political drivers of American climate change attitudes, policy preferences, and behaviors.
4. Produced actionable results vital to the design of effective climate change education and communication campaigns conducted by local, state, and national governments, environmental organizations, academic institutions, businesses, faith groups, doctors and scientists, and the media.

State and Local Surveys

Florida: a representative survey study of public responses to climate change in the state of Florida. Click here for Florida results.

Alaska: a representative survey study of public responses to climate change in the state of Alaska. Click here for Alaska results.

New York City: the first-ever in-depth study of public climate change risk perceptions, policy preferences, and behaviors in a major urban center – New York City. Click here for NYC results.

Local Policy Support: recent national surveys demonstrate that Americans are increasingly convinced that global warming is occurring and favor a wide range of national and international policies to slow it. We currently have almost no understanding, however, about public support for action on global warming by cities and local governments. Yet cities and local governments are critical players, as most of the greenhouse gases contributing to global warming come from urban areas. Building codes, zoning, transportation systems, and electricity production are all examples of critical choices made at the local level, with large consequences on greenhouse gas emissions. This survey was the first to measure public support for a variety of local climate change policies. Two national telephone surveys of Americans, ages 18 and over, were conducted from September 21-23 (n=1,004) and September 28-30, 2007 (n=1,005) in collaboration with GfK Roper. Click here for results.

The Climate Literacy Project

A national survey assessment of adult and 6-12 grade students’ understanding of the climate system and the causes, consequences, and potential solutions to climate change. This project is providing essential knowledge for climate change educators across the United States and an evaluation tool for educators to assess and track improvements in climate literacy among students and public audiences. Several reports have been published:

Americans' Knowledge of Climate Change

Knowledge of Climate Change Across Global Warming's Six Americas

American Teens' Knowledge of Climate Change

Knowledge of Climate Change Among Visitors to Science & Technology Centers