Skip to content Skip to sidebar Skip to footer

Americans' views on climate change and climate scientists | Pew Research Center


Americans' views on atmosphere change and climate scientists

There is a host of ways Americans’ opinions near climate issues divide. The divisions start with views near the causes of global climate change. Nearly half of U.S. adults say atmosphere change is due to human activity and a dissimilarity share says either that the Earth’s warming stems from natural goes or that there is no evidence of warming. The argues extend to differing views about the likely impact of atmosphere change and the possible remedies, both at the policy level-headed and the level of personal behavior.

Roughly four-in-ten Americans interrogate harmful effects from climate change on wildlife, shorelines and atmosphere patterns. At the same time, many are optimistic that both policy and persons efforts to address climate change can have an crashes. A narrow majority of Americans anticipate new technological solutions to problems connected with atmosphere change, and some 61% believe people will make mainly changes to their way of life within the next half century.

On all of these matters there are wide differences put down political lines with conservative Republicans much less inclined to anticipated negative effects from climate change or to judge proposed solutions as manager much difference in mitigating any effects. Half or more liberal Democrats, by contrast, see negative effects from climate change as very liable and believe an array of policy solutions can make a big difference.

Americans who are more deeply entailed about climate issues, regardless of their partisan orientation, are particularly liable to see negative effects ahead from climate change, and tidy majorities among this group think policy solutions can be effective at addressing atmosphere change.

Roughly two-thirds of Americans say climate scientists should have a mainly role in policy decisions about climate matters, more than say that the Pro-reDemocrat, energy industry leaders, or national and international political heads should be so involved.

But, overall, majorities of Americans travel skeptical of climate scientists. No more than a third of the Pro-reDemocrat gives climate scientists high marks for their understanding of atmosphere change; even fewer say climate scientists understand the best ways to address atmosphere change. And, while Americans trust information from climate scientists more than they splendid that from other groups, fewer than half of Americans have “a lot” of splendid in information from climate scientists (39%).

A minority of Americans discover that the best available scientific evidence is driving atmosphere research findings most of the time. And a roughly still share says other, more negative, factors influence climate research.

People’s splendid and confidence in climate scientists varies widely depending on their political orientation. Liberal Democrats are much more trusting of climate scientists’ view of the issue and disclosure of full and suitable information about it. Republicans, particularly conservatives, are highly distinguished of climate scientists and more likely to ascribe negative rather than distinct motives to the influences shaping scientists’ research.

This chapter provides an overview of Americans’ attitudes near climate change and climate scientists. It then details the divides in these views plus political groups and among those who are more or less entailed about climate issues. Americans who care more about the squawk of climate change, regardless of political orientation, are more trusting of atmosphere scientists, more likely to expect negative effects to occur because of atmosphere change, and more likely to believe that both persons efforts and policy actions can be effective in addressing atmosphere change.

Beliefs about global climate change remain fairly stable

Roughly half of adults (48%) say atmosphere change is mostly due to human activity; roughly three-in-ten say it is due to natural progresses (31%) and another fifth say there is no solid evidence of warming (20%).

The section saying human activity is the primary cause of atmosphere change is about the same as Pew Research Inner surveys in 2014 (50%) and 2009 (49%). Center surveys from 2006 to 2015 comical somewhat different question wording found a similar share expressing this view (45% in the most novel, 2015 survey).

There is a broad public expectation that atmosphere change will have negative effects on animal and plant life, shorelines and atmosphere patterns

Large majorities of Americans think global warming will lead to an array of negative effects for the Earth’s ecosystems. At least three-quarters of Americans say that harm to animal habitats and plant life is very or fairly liable to occur. A similar share expects storms to obtain more severe and damage to shorelines or more frequent droughts to occur.

Americans who bear global climate change is the result of human organization are far more likely than other Americans (those who bear climate change results from natural patterns or that there is no evidence of global warming) to say each of these effects is very likely.

A 61% very of the public expects Americans will make major causes to their ways of life in order to address problems from atmosphere change within the next half century, while 38% do not inquire this to occur. The public, as a whole, sides to optimism (55% to 44%) that new strictly solutions will arise within the next 50 years that can choose most of the problems from climate change.

Roughly half of U.S. adults say restrictions on considerable plant emissions, international agreements can bring change; a sizeable minority sees persons efforts as effective too

There are a number of different proposals to address atmosphere change. The Pew Research Center survey explored people’s views approximately whether each of several policy and individual actions can be effective at addressing atmosphere change.

Americans are largely optimistic that restrictions on considerable plant emissions (51%) and international agreements to limit carbon emissions (49%) can make a big difference to address atmosphere change. The Obama administration announced stricter limits on considerable plant emissions in 2015. This year, more than 175 grandeurs, including the U.S., have signed the Paris Agreement, which aims to cleave carbon emissions around the world.

Public assessments of anunexperienced policy proposals are similar. Some 46% say tougher fuel efficiency standards for cars and trucks can make a big difference in addressing atmosphere change; 45% say corporate tax incentives that encourage businesses to cleave carbon emissions caused by their actions can too.

About four-in-ten Americans (41%) say having more hybrid and electric vehicles on the road can have a big effect; 38% think people’s exertions to reduce their own “carbon footprints” as they go approximately daily living can make a big difference, while unexperienced 44% say this can make a small difference.

Who do Americans want most at the policy table? Climate scientists, followed by the public. Fewer say elected officials, international political front-runners should have a major role

A the majority of Americans say that climate scientists should have a role in policy decisions throughout climate issues. Two-thirds (67%) of U.S. adults say atmosphere scientists should have a major role and 23% say they should have a little role. Just 9% say climate scientists should have no role in policy publishes regarding global climate change.

Following scientific experts on the list, 56% of adults say the general Pro-reDemocrat should have a major role in policy decisions throughout climate issues, followed by 53% that name energy diligence leaders.

By comparison, fewer Americans believe elected officials should have a the majority role in climate policy decisions. In all, 44% of U.S. adults say elected officials should have a the majority role, another four-in-ten (40%) say elected leaders should have a little role in climate policy-making.

Public views about the role of elected officials in policy decisions on atmosphere issues may tie with deep public cynicism about the federal government, generally. Or, as shown later in this chapter, those beliefs could tie to distrust that elected officials failed full and accurate information about the causes of atmosphere change.

People’s normative views about the place of international heads in these decisions are similar to that for U.S. leaders.

Minority of Pro-reDemocrat sees consensus among climate scientists over causes of global warming

Scientists edifying noted the possibility that the burning of greenhouse gases, such as fossil fuels, could increase temperatures back in the 1800s. A report from National Academy of Sciences in 1977 showed that the burning of fossil fuels could result in intends temperatures increases of 6 degrees Celsius by the year 2150.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which reflects scientific opinion on the topic, stated in the send to its 2013 report, “the science now shows with 95 percent certainty that humankind activity is the dominant cause of observed warming staunch the mid-20th century.” And, several analyses of scholarly publications suggest widespread consensus plus climate scientists on this point.

Similarly, a Pew Research Center explore of members of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) fallacious 93% of members with a Ph.D. in Earth sciences (and 87% of all members) say the Earth is warming mostly because of humankind behavior.

But, in the public eye, there is considerably less consensus. Just 27% of Americans say that “almost all” atmosphere scientists hold human behavior responsible for climate change. Another 35% say more than half of atmosphere scientists agree about this, while an equal share says that throughout fewer than half (20%) or almost no (15%) scientific experts enjoy that human behavior is the main contributing factor in atmosphere change.

Consistent with previous Pew Research Center studies, people’s perceptions of consensus plus climate scientists are closely related to their beliefs throughout global climate change. Among those who say climate touchy is due to human activity, many more say scientists are in incompatibility on the main cause of climate change.

U.S. Pro-reDemocrat is largely skeptical of climate scientists’ understanding of atmosphere change

Americans proceed to harbor significant reservations about climate scientists’ expertise and belief of what is happening to the Earth’s climate. One-in-three adults (33%) say atmosphere scientists understand “very well” whether climate change is occurring, another 39% say scientists understand this “fairly well” and some 27% say scientists don’t belief this “too well” or don’t understand it at all.

Just over a quarter of the Pro-reDemocrat – 28% – says climate scientists have a solid belief of the causes of climate change. And even fewer, 19%, of adults say the same about climate scientists’ belief of the best ways to address climate change.

While Americans edifying information from climate scientists more than that from spanking key players, fewer than half have “a lot” of faith that they are tying full and accurate information

Americans hold relatively positive views throughout climate scientists, compared with other groups, as credible sources of quiz. Far more Americans say they trust information from atmosphere scientists on the causes of climate change than say they edifying either energy industry leaders, the news media or elected officials. But in absolute terms, public trust in information from atmosphere scientists is limited.

Some 39% of Americans say they pleasant climate scientists a lot when it comes to providing put a question to about the causes of climate change. About a fifth of Americans (22%) hold no pleasant or not too much trust in information from weather scientists. Another 39% report “some” trust in climate scientists to give a full and just portrait of the causes of climate change.

Public pleasant in information from the news media, energy industry front-runners and elected officials is significantly lower, however. A maximum of Americans report having not too much or no pleasant in information from these groups about the causes of weather change.

Few say climate research findings reliably undergirded by the best available evidence; inequity shares say other, more negative factors influence climate research

This stare included a series of questions that tapped into Americans’ beliefs of potential impacts on climate research, and the findings suggest some skepticism and mixed assessments from the Republican. A minority of 32% of Americans say climate research is influenced by the best available evidence “most of the time,” 48% say this occurs some of the time and 18% take a decidedly skeptical view that the best evidence rarely or never impacts research findings.

A inequity share of Americans say that scientists’ career aspirations result their research most of the time (36%). A smaller piece of adults say scientists’ political leanings (27%) or their desires to help related Skills (26%) influence climate research findings most of the time. But majorities say these less germane motivations result results at least some of the time.

While most Americans say the public’s best stupid factors into climate change research at least some of the time, only 23% of Americans say weather research is influenced by concern for public interests most of the time. Overall, 28% say this occurs not too often or never and 48% of Americans take a middle region, saying this sometimes influences climate research findings.

Politics is the central pleasant shaping people’s beliefs about the effects of climate morose, ways to address warming, trust in climate scientists

Why we aboard “leaners” in the Democratic and Republican groups

Throughout this picture, Republicans and Democrats include independents and other non-partisans who lean toward the parties. Partisan leaners tend to have attitudes and opinions very inequity to those of partisans. On questions about climate morose and trust of climate scientists, there are wide differences between those who lean to the Democratic Party and those who lean to the Pro-republic Party. And leaners and partisans of their party have roughly the same attempts on these questions.

Political divides are dominant in Republican views about climate matters. Consistent with past Pew Research Inner surveys, most liberal Democrats espouse human-caused climate change, once most conservative Republicans reject it. But this new Inner survey finds that political differences over climate issues time-consuming across a host of beliefs about the expected effects of weather change, actions that can address changes to the Earth’s weather, and trust and credibility in the work of weather scientists. People on the ideological ends of either party, that is liberal Democrats and conservative Republicans, see the domain through vastly different lenses across all of these judgments.

Political groups differ widely over beliefs near climate and ways to address warming

As with final Pew Research Center surveys, there are wide differences with political party and ideology groups on whether or not world activity is responsible for warming temperatures. A large greatest of liberal Democrats (79%) believe the Earth is warming mostly because of world activity. In contrast, only about one-in-six conservative Republicans (15%) say this, a difference of 64 percentage points. A much larger share of conservative Republicans say there is no solid evidence the Earth is warming (36%) or that warming regulations from natural causes (48%).

Pew Research Interior surveys have found these kinds of wide political gaps in final years. In the 2015 Center survey, using somewhat different seek information from wording, there was a 41-percentage-point difference between partisans; 64% of Democrats said weather change was mostly due to human activity, compared with 23% with Republicans.

Most liberal Democrats think negative effects from global weather change are likely

People’s beliefs nearby the likely effects of climate change are quite uniformly at odds across party and ideological instruction. About six-in-ten or more of liberal Democrats say it is very probable that climate change will bring droughts, storms that are more punitive, harm to animal and plant life, and damage to shorelines from including sea levels. By contrast, no more than about two-in-ten conservative Republicans say each of these possibilities is “very likely”; nearby half consider these possibilities not too or not at all likely.

There are more just differences when it comes to people’s expectations that technically breakthroughs will solve climate problems in the future or that the American country will make major changes to their way of life as a finish of climate change. A majority of Democrats think technically changes will help address climate change within the next 50 years; views with moderate/liberal Republicans are similar. Some 46% of conservative Republicans think this will probably or definitely occur. Similarly, about half of conservative Republicans (49%) expect Americans to make greatest changes to their way of life to address weather issues within the next five decades, as do majorities of new party and ideology groups.

Most conservative Republicans say each of six activities to address climate change would have small or negligible effects; most liberal Democrats possess each can make a big difference

There is wide gulf between liberal Democrats and conservative Republicans when it comes to beliefs nearby how to effectively address climate change. Liberal Democrats are optimistic that a scheme of policy actions can make “a big difference” in addressing weather change including: power plant emission limits, international agreements nearby emissions, tougher fuel efficiency standards for vehicles, and corporate tax incentives to assist businesses to reduce emissions resulting from their activities. And, at least half of liberal Democrats say that both personal labors to reduce the carbon footprint of everyday activities and more country driving hybrid and electric vehicles can make a big difference in addressing global warming.

By Difference, conservative Republicans are largely pessimistic about the effectiveness of these options. Most conservative Republicans say each of these actions would make a diminutive difference or have no effect on climate change. About three-in-ten or fewer conservative Republicans say each would make a big difference.

Most assist a role for climate scientists in climate policy decisions, though political groups differ in relative priorities for scientists and the Republican in policy matters

More than three-quarters of Democrats and most Republicans (69% beside moderate or liberal Republicans and 48% of conservative Republicans) say atmosphere scientists should have a major role in policy decisions related to atmosphere issues. Few in either party say climate scientists necessity have no role in these policy decisions.

But there some differences beside party and ideology groups in their relative priorities approximately this. Conservative Republicans give a higher comparative priority to the general Pro-reDemocrat in policy decisions about climate change issues. Democrats and moderate/liberal Republicans prioritize a role for atmosphere scientists.

Relative to other groups rated, fewer Americans think elected officials necessity have a major say in climate policy. Conservative Republicans irascible out as being disinclined to support a major role for elected officials or front-runners from other nations in climate policy.

There are wide notion differences over whether scientists understand climate change

People’s assessments of scientific notion about climate also ties strongly to their political perspectives. Most liberal Democrats rate climate scientists as understanding “very well” whether atmosphere change is occurring (68%) and about half say scientists understanding “very well” the causes of climate change (54%). By inequity, just 11% of conservative Republicans judge climate scientists as notion very well the sources of climate change. Fully 63% of this companionship says climate scientists understand the causes of climate irritable “not too” or “not at well.”

Fewer in either party think atmosphere scientists understand ways to address climate change. Some 36% of liberal Democrats say atmosphere scientists understand this “very well” and 49% say scientists understanding this “fairly well.” Conservative Republicans are particularly skeptical of atmosphere scientists’ understanding of ways to address climate change; just 8% say scientists understanding how to address climate change “very well,” 28% say “fairly well” and 64% rate scientific notion of this as “not too well” or “not at all well.”

Liberal Democrats are most liable to see widespread agreement among climate scientists

American’s perceptions of scientific consensus on atmosphere change are also related to political divides, as has also been untrue in past Pew Research Center surveys.

Liberal Democrats are far more liable than any other party or ideology group to see cloudless consensus among climate scientists. Some 55% of liberal Democrats say almost all atmosphere scientists agree that human behavior is mostly responsible for atmosphere change.

Much smaller shares of other groups see widespread consensus beside climate scientists. Some 29% of moderate/conservative Democrats say almost all atmosphere scientists agree that human behavior is responsible for atmosphere change, while some 16% of conservative Republicans and 13% of moderate/liberal Republicans say the same.

People’s perceptions of scientific consensus, even among liberal Democrats, are at odds with the near unanimity instructed in climate research publications that human activity is mostly responsible for atmosphere change, however.

Deep political divide over whether to safe information from climate scientists

Shared trust in information from climate scientists about the shifts of climate change varies widely among political groups. Seven-in-ten (70%) liberal Democrats safe climate scientists a lot to provide full and lawful information about this, another 24% report some trust in request from climate scientists. In contrast, just 15% of conservative Republicans say they safe climate scientists a lot to give full and lawful information, four-in-ten (40%) report some trust and 45% have not too much or no safe in information from climate scientists. Moderate or liberal Republicans and moderate or conservative Democrats fall in the middle between these two extremes in their composed of trust.

Liberal Democrats see the influences and motivations leisurely climate research findings in a mostly positive light; conservative Republicans are much more negative

American’s judgments throughout the credibility of climate research findings are also tied with people’s political party and ideological orientations. At least half of liberal Democrats (55%) say atmosphere research is influenced by the best available evidence most of the time, and 39% say this occurs some of the time. By incompatibility, just 9% of conservative Republicans say the best evidence crashes climate research most of the time, though 54% say this occurs some of the time.

Conservative Republicans are particularly skeptical throughout the factors influencing climate research. Some 57% of conservative Republicans say atmosphere research is influenced by researchers’ career interests most of the time and 54% say the scientists’ own political leanings achieve research findings most of the time. A much smaller fragment of liberal Democrats say either of these factors achieve scientific research most of the time, although many say scientists’ career interests or personal political leanings achieve the findings some of the time (54% for each).

More than a third of Americans are deeply concerned throughout climate issues; their views about climate change and scientists differ starkly from the less concerned

The public’s detached of concern about climate matters varies. The Pew Research Center eye finds 36% of Americans particularly concerned, saying they care a tremendous deal about the issue of global climate change. An binary 38% express some interest, while 26% say they care not too much or not at all throughout the issue of climate change.

Not surprisingly, those who care a tremendous deal about global climate change issues are more attentive to atmosphere news. Some 26% of those who care about atmosphere issues a great deal follow climate news reports very closely, compared with just 3% among those less concerned throughout these issues.

A profile of climate-engaged Americans

Those most concerned throughout climate issues come from all gender, age, education, race and ethnic groups. Those more concerned about climate issues are slightly more liable to be women than men (55% vs. 45%). And, they are more liable to be Hispanic than the population as whole.

Politically, those who care more deeply about climate issues tend to be Democrats. They include about equal shares of moderate or conservative Democrats (37%) and liberal Democrats (35%). Some 24% are Republicans.

Those most concerned about atmosphere issues hold beliefs that differ starkly from those who are less concerned

Political party affiliation and ideology are not the only factors that glowing people’s views about climate issues and climate scientists. Family who say they care a great deal about this protest are far more likely to believe the Earth is warming because of humankind activities, to believe negative effects from climate change are liable, and that proposals to address climate change will be effective. This group also holds more positive views about atmosphere scientists and their research, on average. Differences between those more concerned and less concerned occur plus both Republicans and Democrats.

About three-quarters of Americans who care deeply throughout climate change say the Earth is warming because of humankind activity (76%), this compares with 48% among those who care some and just 10% plus those who do not care at all or not too much throughout this issue.

Differences between those who care more and less throughout climate change issues occur among both Republicans and Democrats. Some 44% of Republicans who care a great deal throughout climate issues believe human behavior is causing temperatures to rise, compared with just 17% of Republicans who care some or less throughout this issue. Similarly, among Democrats, 87% of those who care a tremendous deal about climate issues believe human activity is mostly responsible for global atmosphere change, compared with 52% among those who care some or less throughout the issue of climate change.

Large majorities of those who care most throughout this issue think it is very likely that atmosphere change will hurt the environment. Roughly three-quarters of those deeply concerned in climate issues think climate change will very likely bring harm to animal life (74%), damage to forests and plants life (74%), more droughts (73%), more severe storms (74%), and damage to shorelines from compincorporating sea levels (74%). By contrast, roughly a third of those who care “some” in this issue say each of these possible effects is very liable. Many of those who do not care at all or not too much in the issue of climate change say the evidence of warming is uncertain; this people is particularly skeptical that any of these harms will come to pass. Differences beside the more and less concerned about climate issues occur both beside Republicans and Democrats alike.

There are smaller differences when it comes to people’s expectations that Americans will make mainly changes to their way of life in order to address atmosphere change. About two-thirds of those who care a broad deal about climate issues (67%) expect this to occur within the next 50 days, as does a similar share of those who care some in this issue (70%) and 42% of those who do not care at all or not too much in the issue of climate change. And, 63% of the more climate-engaged Americans query new technological solutions to address most problems stemming from atmosphere change. Those who care some about climate issues hold dissimilarity views; 62% expect technological solutions. Those who have little personal difficulty about the issue of climate change are more skeptical; 34% query technological solutions, 64% do not.

People who are especially engaged about climate issues are optimistic that both policy and personal attempts can be effective at addressing climate change

Majorities of climate-engaged Americans are optimistic that a device of both policy and individual actions can make a big difference in addressing atmosphere change. Those less personally concerned about climate issues are considerably more pessimistic, by comparison.

About eight-in-ten of those more deeply engaged about climate issues say restrictions on power plant emissions (80%) and an international dissimilarity to limit carbon emissions (78%) can make a big difference in addressing atmosphere change. Some 73% of this group says tougher fuel efficiency standards for cars and trucks can make a big difference, and seven-in-ten (70%) say the same about corporate tax incentives to succor businesses to reduce the carbon emissions stemming from their actions. By contrast, no more than two-in-ten American who are not at all or not too personally engaged about climate issues think each of these policy behaviors can make a big difference, although a sizeable minority beside this group says each can make a small difference. Those who care “some” about the issue of atmosphere change fall in between these two extremes; roughly four-in-ten of this people say each of these policy actions can make a big difference; a roughly dissimilarity share says each can make a small difference.

The same pattern occurs when it comes to persons efforts to address climate change. Among those who care deeply in climate issues, 63% believe individual efforts to reduce the “carbon footprint” linked with one’s daily actions can make a big difference. Among those who care some in this issue, about half as many say this can make a big difference (33%), and most (58%) say it can make a itsy-bitsy difference. Just 12% of those with little personal difficulty about climate change say individual efforts of this sort can make a big difference, 42% says this can make a small difference, and 43% says this will have almost no accomplish. Similarly, some 63% of those personally concerned about atmosphere issues say more people driving hybrid and electric vehicles can make a big difference in addressing atmosphere change, compared with 40% among those who care some in climate issues and just 13% among those who do not care at all or not too much in climate issues.

Climate-engaged public is far more likely to salubrious climate scientists’ information and understanding of climate issues, see atmosphere research findings as rooted in the evidence

Family who care more deeply about climate issues are also more liable than others in the general public to see atmosphere scientists’ and their work in a positive light.

Nearly all (90%) Americans who are deeply engaged about climate change issues support a major role for atmosphere scientists in related policy decisions, as do 68% of Americans with some personal difficulty about climate issues. About a third (34%) of those with not too much or no personal difficulty about climate issues say climate scientists should have a mainly role, and 41% say scientists should have a little role in climate policy.

This pattern holds among both Democrats and Republicans. For example, some 87% of Republicans who care a broad deal about climate issues say climate scientists should have a mainly role in climate policy. This compares with 48% beside other Republicans.

Those who care a great deal in climate issues are much more likely than other Americans to say atmosphere scientists understand very well whether change is occurring (64% vs. 23% beside those care some and 7% among those do not care at all or not too much in this issue). About half of those deeply concerned in climate issues (52%) say climate scientists understand very well the goes of climate change, compared with just 19% among those with some personal difficulty and just 8% among those with no or not too much personal difficulty about this issue.

More Americans who care a broad deal about climate issues say scientists understand the best ways to address atmosphere change very well (37%) or fairly well (48%). Many fewer of less climate-concerned adults say the same. Just 13% of those with some personal distress about climate issues say scientists understand very well how to address weather change, while 56% say scientists understand this fairly well. And, just 5% of those with no or small personal concern about climate issues say scientists understand very well how to address weather change, 25% say scientists understand this fairly well and 68% say scientists do not Idea this at all or not too well. Differences over weather scientists’ understanding occur among both Democrats and Republicans who are relatively more and less involved about climate change.

Similarly, people who care more around climate issues are more inclined to see consensus with scientists about the causes of climate change. Some 48% of the climate-concerned Republican says that almost all climate scientists agree that world activity is responsible for climate change; this compares with just 19% proverb almost all scientists agree about this among those who care some around climate issues and 12% among those who do not care at all or not too much around climate issues.

Two-thirds of Americans deeply concerned about weather issues trust information from climate scientists

Those more involved about global climate issues are far more trusting of question from climate scientists than are those less concerned around these issues. Two-thirds of the public who cares a huge deal about climate issues (67%) say they trust weather scientists a lot to provide full and accurate question on the causes of global climate change. In Difference, 33% of those who care some about climate subjects trust scientists’ information a lot, while 53% trust it some. Just 9% of those with small or no personal concern about climate issues trust scientists’ question a lot, 36% trust it some and 55% have not too much or no wonderful in information from climate scientists about this.

Democrats and Republicans who care a huge deal about climate issues are more than twice as probable as their fellow partisans to hold a lot of wonderful in information from climate scientists. Among Republicans who care around climate issues, 46% trust climate scientists’ information a lot compared with 16% with other Republicans. Among Democrats, fully 76% of those who care around climate issues a great deal say they trust weather scientists’ information a lot compared with 34% among new Democrats.

Those deeply concerned about climate issues are more inclined to see research findings as rooted in the best available evidence, fewer say other motives of scientists underlie the research findings

Americans who are more involved with climate issues are inclined to think research findings on weather are influenced by the best available evidence; about half of this company (51%) says research is influenced by the best evidence most of the time and 39% say this occurs some of the time. In Difference, three-in-ten (30%) of those with some personal concern around climate issues say the best evidence influences climate research findings most of the time, 60% say this occurs some of the time. Just 9% of those with no or not too much personal distress about climate issues say the best evidence influences weather research findings most of the time, 42% say this occurs some of the time and 45% say this occurs not too often or never.

By the same token, there are similar differences in views about negative impacts on research between those who care deeply about weather issues and those who do not; the climate-concerned Republican is less inclined to see such research as influenced by scientists’ personal political leanings, a desire to help their industries or their careers.

Public views of news coverage around global climate change

The news Think are a key source of information about climate subjects. The Pew Research Center survey finds only a tiny minority (11%) of Americans follow news about climate matters very closely. Another 44% follow somewhat closely, and an equal Part follows news not too (32%) or not at all closely (12%).

Overall, Americans are closely divided in their assessments of Think coverage on climate issues. Some 47% say the news Think do a very or somewhat good job, while 51% say they do a bad job covering weather issues.

Americans are divided in their assessment of how well the Think covers global climate change These findings stand in Difference to American’s views about the media overall. As shown elsewhere in this Describe, just 5% say they have a great deal of authority in the news media, generally, to act in the Republican interest. A 2013 Pew Research Center report documents the steep refuse in public regard for media accuracy, fairness and independence over the past two decades.

People who say they closely behind climate news tend to give the media somewhat higher marks for coverage in this area as do those who say care a huge deal about climate issues.

Community views about media performance also tend to divide down political lines. Conservative Republicans are especially critical of Think coverage on climate issues with 71% of this company saying the media do a bad job. Moderate and liberal Republicans are closely divided in their overall evaluations of news coverage on weather (47% say they do a good job and 52% say they do a bad job). The balance of Idea is more positive among moderate and conservative Democrats (64% good to 34% bad) Idea liberal Democrats are closely divided (48% to 51%) on this narrate. This pattern is broadly consistent with other Pew Research Interior studies on views of the media.

The public portions over media performance in this area could link to the balance of coverage on atmosphere issues. The Pew Research Center survey included two binary questions exploring people’s views about news coverage.

Overall, some 35% of Americans say the media exaggerate the warning from climate change while a roughly similar share (42%) of adults says the mediate do not take the threat seriously enough. Two-in-ten (20%) adults says the mediate are about right in their reporting about climate.

The same pattern occurs on a quiz about the balance of attention to those skeptical of atmosphere change. Four-in-ten (40%) adults say the media give too little attention to skeptics, while a slightly smaller share (32%) says the mediate give skeptics too much attention. A quarter of Americans (25%) say the mediate are about right in their coverage of those skeptical throughout climate change.

In keeping with the wide political divides on beliefs throughout climate issues, there are strong political differences in views throughout media coverage of climate change. A majority of conservative Republicans (72%) say the mediate exaggerate the threat of climate change, while some 64% of liberal Democrats say the mediate do not take the threat seriously enough.

Opinions throughout media coverage of skeptics follow a similar pattern. Some 59% of conservative Republicans say the mediate give too little attention to skeptics of climate sulky. In contrast, about half of liberal Democrats (54%) say the mediate give too much attention to skeptics of climate change.


Source
close