The degree to which climate change threatens the ecosystems of the Earth and societies around the world has been an ongoing subject of debate, and sometimes protest. With Earth Day, Monday, April 22, Pew Research Center took stock of U.S. public opinion about climate change, based on recent Pew surveys.
Americans have a long to-do list for the president and Congress. Protecting the environment has been near the middle of the public’s priorities in Pew Research Center surveys over the past decade, while dealing with climate change has been lower on the list. But the shares of Americans who consider each to be a top priority have grown considerably since 2011. The increase has been especially pronounced among Democrats.
A majority of U.S. adults say climate change affects their local area; 31% say it affects them personally. A majority of Americans see at least some effect of climate change where they live. In 2018, 59% said that global climate change was affecting their local community a great deal or some. Those who said this explained how they see such effects in a number of ways. Many pointed to changes in the weather, including increasing frequency of severe storms, droughts, floods, and wildfires, 45% of those asked, cited this reason.
—Pew Research Center