Climate change concern among US citizens at near-record high, according to new survey
An annual survey has found that public concern about global warming among Americans remains close to historic highs, and that partisan divides continue to shape how the issue and its impacts are interpreted.
According to Gallup’s annual Environment poll, 44% of American adults say they worry “a great deal” about global warming or climate change. This is the third highest level of concern since 1989, when the poll was first conducted – behind only the 46% recorded in 2020 and 45% recorded in 2017.
The poll, which was published on 14 April following polling in March, found that 22% of those surveyed report “a fair amount” of worry about climate change, 12% say they worry “only a little” and 23% do not worry at all.
Deep partisan divides
The rise in climate concern is primarily fuelled by Democrats and independents. On average since 2017, 69% of Democrats have said they worry a great deal about climate change, compared to 49% between 2009 and 2016. Independents’ concern has risen from an average of 29% to 45%.
Meanwhile, concern among Republicans has decreased. Only 11% have worried a great deal about climate change since 2017, down from an average of 15% between 2009 and 2016. This year, Republicans’ worry dropped to a new low of 6%.
Seriousness of global warming underestimated
Alongside growing concern, the 2026 poll found that more Americans believe the seriousness of global warming is being downplayed in the media.
In the latest poll, 44% say climate change is underestimated in the news. This is up from the 38% reported in 2025 and is the highest level recorded to date.
In addition, the percentage who believe global warming is exaggerated has fallen sharply, from 41% last year to 32% in this year’s poll. This is the lowest figure recorded since 2006. Only 21% say media coverage is adequate.
Again, views differ by political party. Sixty-five percent of Democrats say climate change is underestimated in the news, while 71% of Republicans believe the effects are exaggerated.
Read more: Australian government must fight climate disinformation, says Senate committee
Perspective on urgency
The majority of Americans (61%), believe the effects of global warming have already begun. Those who do not share this belief are split between believing the effects will occur later in their lifetime (10%), after their lifetime (12%), or not at all (14%).
However, belief in the effects of climate change does not necessarily equate to a perception of personal impact. The poll found that less than half (45%) of Americans think global warming will impact them directly.
Democrats are much more likely (68%) to expect that climate change will affect their life. A little under half of independents (47%) share this view, and just 12% of Republicans do.
The root cause
Americans widely attribute rising global temperatures to the effects of pollution from human activities rather than to natural changes in the environment, at 64% compared to 33%, however, here too, views differ greatly by political party.
In the early 2000s, the majority of Republicans, Democrats and independents agreed that human activity was the number one contributor to climate change. Today, 90% of Democrats and 65% of independents believe this to be true, compared to just 28% of Republicans.
In the latest poll, Gallup also found that those who have experienced warmer winters to what they are historically accustomed to are far more likely to attribute temperature changes to human-caused climate change, while those who experienced colder winters are more conflicted.
Read more: Climate concerns persist in 2025 but faith in government action wanes
Trump administration’s climate rollback
Gallup highlights that while previous Democratic administrations have taken strong steps to counter climate change, president Trump’s Republican administration has taken steps to reverse the work of Democratic administrations on the issue.
The current administration has questioned the validity of climate science, rolled back environmental policy and legislation, and withdrawn from international efforts to fight climate change.
Actions include the decision to pull the US out of the Paris Agreement, and its withdrawal from the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and the Commission for Environmental Cooperation among scores of others.
“That shift in policy may explain why more Americans than a year ago think the seriousness of global warming is being underestimated and why concern about the issue is holding near historical highs,” Gallup said.
Read more: President Trump withdraws US from UN climate treaty and 65 international bodies
About Annalee Card
Annalee is a St. Lawrence University student perusing a degree in Business & Digital Media with a minor in Sports Studies & Exercise Science. As part of the St. Lawrence London Program, Annalee is interning with Global Government Forum where she supports event coordination and media initiatives. She has previously gained experience working with organizations like the Northeastern New York PGA and Blood Cancer United. She is a dual sport athlete competing on both the St. Lawrence NCAA DIII women's golf and field hockey teams.
