Nearly three quarters of Americans believe humans can reduce climate change but aren’t willing to change their behaviors
Washington DC, April 21, 2022
Over half (57%) of Americans believe climate change is mostly caused by human activity, a 6-percentage point increase from the number of Americans saying the same in 2017 and 2018. However, while the majority of Americans believe climate change is caused by human activity, over a quarter (27%) believe it is mostly caused by natural patterns, and 6% believe it is not happening at all. Nearly half of Republicans believe climate change is caused by natural patterns (46%) compared to just 12% of Democrats.
Among those who believe climate change is caused by human activity, the majority (89%) agree that humans could slow or reverse climate change but aren’t willing to change their behavior. Along these lines, less than half of Americans say they are likely to make changes in the next year to help limit climate change, such as using public transportation (29%), trading in their car for an electric vehicle (38%), or walking or biking to close locations instead of driving (43%).
Despite the majority of Americans believing humans could reverse climate change but will not change their behavior (71%), most do not agree that it is too late to stop climate change (62%). Younger age groups are slightly more pessimistic, with about a third of 18-34-year old’s (31%) and 35–54-year old’s (30%) agreeing that it is too late to stop climate change, compared to 20% of respondents over the age of 55.
When it comes to what climate change Americans have experienced, two-thirds say unusual weather for the season has gotten more frequent (66%) and more intense (61%) in their areas compared to ten years ago. Extreme heat and poor air quality or air pollution are also reported by a plurality of Americans as becoming more frequent and more intense.
However, experiences vary by region and political affiliations. Those living in the west are more likely to report poor air quality and extreme heat becoming more frequent than are respondents from the Northeast, Midwest, or the South. The majority of those living in the West also say droughts (66%) and wildfires (73%) have become more frequent, while people in the Northeast and South report increasing frequency of flooding and hurricanes or tropical storms. Additionally, for all extreme weather occurrences, Democrats are more likely than Republicans to say they have become more frequent and intense in their areas of the past ten years
About the Study
These are the findings of an Ipsos poll conducted between April 13-14, 2022. For this survey, a sample of 1,005 adults age 18+ from the continental U.S., Alaska, and Hawaii was interviewed online in English. The sample includes 369 Republicans and 419 Democrats.
The sample was randomly drawn from Ipsos’ online panel, partner online panel sources, and “river” sampling and does not rely on a population frame in the traditional sense. Ipsos uses fixed sample targets, unique to each study, in drawing a sample. After a sample has been obtained from the Ipsos panel, Ipsos calibrates respondent characteristics to be representative of the U.S. Population using standard procedures such as raking-ratio adjustments. The source of these population targets is U.S. Census 2019 American Community Survey data. The sample drawn for this study reflects fixed sample targets on demographics. Post-hoc weights were made to the population characteristics on gender, age, race/ethnicity, region, and education.
Statistical margins of error are not applicable to online non-probability polls. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including, but not limited to coverage error and measurement error. Where figures do not sum to 100, this is due to the effects of rounding. The precision of Ipsos online polls is measured using a credibility interval. In this case, the poll has a credibility interval of plus or minus 3.8 percentage points for all respondents. Ipsos calculates a design effect (DEFF) for each study based on the variation of the weights, following the formula of Kish (1965). This study had a credibility interval adjusted for design effect of the following (n=1,005, DEFF=1.5, adjusted Confidence Interval=+/-5.3 percentage points).
The poll also has a credibility interval of plus or minus 6.2 percentage points for Republicans and plus or minus 5.9 percentage points for Democrats.
For more information on this news release, please contact:
Jennifer Berg
Director, US
Public Affairs
+1 312 526 4224
About Ipsos
Ipsos is the world’s third largest Insights and Analytics company, present in 90 markets and employing more than 18,000 people.
Our passionately curious research professionals, analysts and scientists have built unique multi-specialist capabilities that provide true understanding and powerful insights into the actions, opinions and motivations of citizens, consumers, patients, customers or employees. We serve more than 5000 clients across the world with 75 business solutions.
Founded in France in 1975, Ipsos has been listed on the Euronext Paris since July 1st, 1999. The company is part of the SBF 120 and the Mid-60 index and is eligible for the Deferred Settlement Service (SRD).
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